The Pull of the Unseen: Why We Believe in Conspiracies

“The truth is messy, yet our minds crave a clear story that makes sense and delivers a touch of justice and sometimes we can’t handle the truth”

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how conspiracy theories dominate our news, social media, and even casual conversation. You see them everywhere—in politics, business, wars, science, medical issues, assassinations—you name it. And here’s the thing: sometimes the evidence looks incredibly convincing. It’s detailed, it’s packaged, and it feels like it could be true. And yet, when we turn to the authorities for answers, the clarity we hope for often isn’t there. That, in my view, is exactly why these narratives gain traction.

A big part of the reason is legal constraints. Lawyers, liability, and ongoing investigations tie up information. Authorities might know more than they can legally share, or releasing certain details could compromise cases, violate privacy, or create lawsuits. From the outside, that looks like secrecy, but it’s really just the law doing its job. Yet conspiracy theorists hate this words—“ongoing investigations”—because it sounds like a loophole for hiding the truth rather than a necessary safeguard.

We’re wired to look for patterns, meaning, and causes. When something dramatic happens—something that shakes us—it makes us uncomfortable not knowing why. Human nature wants a story, something that ties the chaos together. Conspiracy theories offer that story. They give us a sense of understanding and control, even if the explanations are speculative. Psychologists explain that we crave certainty, safety, and belonging. Our minds simply can’t stand empty spaces in the story.

It’s not just curiosity or fear that drives it. People who are naturally suspicious or distrust institutions are more likely to buy in. Our brains over-attribute intent and agency where there may be none. Add confirmation bias—only seeing evidence that supports what we already believe—and suddenly, ambiguity becomes a conspiracy.

I’ve noticed something about this that hits close to home: we often do the same thing in our personal lives. We blame others for problems that are really the result of our own choices. We imagine someone is plotting against us, when in reality, that person doesn’t even know what’s going on in our mind and has nothing to do with our setbacks. Conspiracy theories are like that on a grand scale. They take a very human impulse—blaming outside forces for our frustration—and amplify it, giving it a story, a villain, and a sense of control, even if it’s entirely imagined.

History gives us examples of both truth and myth. COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program, a series of covert and often illegal activities conducted by the FBI from 1956 to 1971 aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations in the United States.) , Watergate, and the Tuskegee syphilis study show real conspiracies existed. The JFK assassination and the mystery of D.B. Cooper illustrate how gaps in information can ignite decades of speculation. Area 51’s secrecy fueled decades of alien lore. And vaccines—especially during COVID—became lightning rods for suspicion, partly because science evolves and partly because government communications lag behind public questions.

What fascinates me is how these theories persist even when evidence contradicts them. People reinterpret disconfirming facts as part of the cover-up, double down on their beliefs, and reinforce them through social communities. Believing one conspiracy makes it easier to believe others. It’s a mindset, a psychology, and a social system all rolled into one.

So here’s my takeaway: conspiracy theories thrive because our need for meaning and certainty is stronger than the world’s willingness—or ability—to give clear answers. They’re seductive, sometimes partially true, but rarely the neat, complete stories they claim to be. The challenge is to stay curious, skeptical, and aware of both deception and our own psychological quirks, while respecting the legal and investigative realities that often prevent the full truth from coming out immediately.