Do those who engage in the persistent mongering of conspiracy theories have a mental illness? (state, official)

[vikingnortheast]

I pose this question because I notice that there is a group of posters, relatively small, who are so relentless, unmovable, and so absolutely certain in their conspiracy beliefs that it makes me wonder.

In answer to the question, apparently quite a few psychiatrists think so.
“In my practice, it’s been pretty much the norm that patients who maintain and/or pursue beliefs in some of the more common conspiracy theories or far-out fringe conspiracy theories, are almost always suffering from mental illness.”
Canadian Psychiatrist insists, “Conspiracy theorists have underlying mental illness. - The Damien Zone

[k.smith904]

"Anyone who challenges the socially accepted reality of things is ****ed in the head."


I wonder if there were abnormalities in Einstein, Newton, or Copernicus' brain...

[temazepam]

Nah, their tinfoil hats are just on too tight.

[mhouse2001]

I think it's a more prevalent and more troubling mental illness to believe the official stories and deny the conspiracies.

[kaimuki]

Originally Posted by mhouse2001

I think it's a more prevalent and more troubling mental illness to believe the official stories and deny the conspiracies.

Agreed!

[Roaddog]

I think everyone has some sort of mental illness, it depends on how strong the illness is whether others notice it.

Yes conspiracy theorists probably do have to some degree a mental illness

Of course this is just my opinion and I'm sure I have a mental illness also.

[LibertyandJusticeforAll]

It is one thing to distrust the information given to you which can be good for society and finding other facts and truths.

But having a theory without all the facts becomes a different reality.

Though with facts to your theory its even harder to change peoples minds.

Either way any thoery can not and will not be considered serious if everyone believes what is told to them.

It is very easy to get people to believe many things in this society.
Real or not real and those who have that POWER know that.

[eastwesteastagain]

To the OP: I don't think so. Conspiracy theorists may score higher on scales of suspiciousness and paranoia than the average bear, but that alone doesn't make a thought disorder. Although, there is a subset of the posters here that worry me a bit...

ETA: The study cited isn't all that solid in terms of measures used, sample size, etc. - so I'd take the author's statements with a grain of salt.

[Cunucu Beach]

Is it a conspiracy theory to believe there are conspiracies???

[Grim Reader]

I don't think the holding a single conspiracy theory is neccessarily is a sign of mental illness. For most conspiracy theories. Nor does it exclude it.

But I do wonder about people who firmly believe in lots of conspiracy theories, often incompatible ones.