Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?

Peer pressure makes people believe in conspiracy theories

Question: Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?
Position‹3 of 5›: Social factors make people believe in conspiracy theories
Argument‹2 of 2: Peer pressure makes people believe in conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theorists are often part of communities which socially reward them for believing.

The argument

Particularly with the creation of an online conspiracy community, people have a social incentive to believe in conspiracies. People who are socially isolated may experience a desire to find meaning. They may then find online conspiracy theory communities and latch onto them as social communities. As conspiracy theories become more community-based, it is entirely possible that believers could become part of one of these communities and not want to suffer the social penalty that not believing conspiracy theories may then introduce.

Premises

[P1]Socially isolated people seek meaning and belonging, which online conspiracy communities readily provide. [P2] Once embedded in such communities, members face social penalties for doubting the shared beliefs and rewards for affirming them. [C] Therefore, peer pressure and social incentives within these communities lead people to believe in conspiracy theories.

Counter-arguments

There is no social element to conspiracy theories, as, in reality, people would gain social capital if they disavowed conspiracy theories. Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories are not rewarded, but socially punished and made to feel like outcasts.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] There is more of a social incentive to not believe in conspiracy theories.