Researchers found that people who possess personality traits known as the “Dark Tetrad” are more likely to believe Princess Diana’s death was orchestrated by the British royal family, that the moon landing was faked, and that alien spacecraft are being stored at Area 51, among other conspiracy theories.
The traits of the Dark Tetrad are Machiavellianism (manipulativeness and cynicism); narcissism (vanity and self-obsession); psychopathy (impulsivity and callousness); and sadism (cruelty and abusiveness). Most people have elements of some of these traits, says Cameron Kay, a doctoral candidate in the department of psychology at the University of Oregon.
“In plain terms, it seems like disagreeable people, who score high in these traits, are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories,” Kay says. “They are prone to odd beliefs. They don’t feel like they are in control of their lives. They are robbed of their agency and have an innate distrust of other people and organizations like the government.”
We know who you are…
You mean conspiracies like Russiagate? 😛
“Maybe You Missed It, but the Internet ‘Died’ Five Years Ago : A conspiracy theory spreading online says the whole internet is now fake. It’s ridiculous, but possibly not that ridiculous?” https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/08/dead-internet-theory-wrong-but-feels-true/619937/
This article is part of “Shadowland,” a project about conspiracy thinking in America. https://www.theatlantic.com/shadowland/
‘The lunacy is getting more intense’: how Birds Aren’t Real took on the conspiracy theorists https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/14/the-lunacy-is-getting-more-intense-how-birds-arent-real-took-on-the-conspiracy-theorists
7AM MDT, tomorrow morning, 15th