Group mentality makes people believe in conspiracy theories

The argument

A group mentality is a core part of conspiracy theories. The narrative of conspiracy theories often focuses on an “intergroup context where a powerful out-group threatens the well-being of the perceiver’s fellow in-group members”. People are likely to become more entrenched in their groups through conspiracy theory believe, as they develop mistrust towards other group and a collective narcissism carrying their belief that their group alone has access to the truth.

Premises

Counter-arguments

A counter notes that group mentality may be a consequence of holding conspiracy beliefs as much as a cause of them, so the direction of explanation is uncertain. The in-group/out-group framing it describes also overlaps with the rival 'cognitive' and 'psychological' accounts, suggesting group dynamics are one mechanism among several rather than the decisive social driver. Critics add that many believers now arrive at their views individually online rather than through tight-knit social groups, so group belonging may explain the persistence and spread of a conspiracy theory better than its initial adoption.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Entrenchment in a group may follow from adopting a conspiracy belief rather than cause it, so the causal direction the argument assumes is uncertain. [Rejecting C] In-group/out-group framing overlaps with the cognitive and psychological accounts, so group mentality is plausibly one contributing mechanism among several rather than the decisive social cause.