Research into the psychology behind conspiracy theories is fraught with difficulty, primarily because the field relies heavily on self-reported data, which is inherently subjective. Neil Dagnall, a professor of psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, noted that measuring beliefs through personal accounts is imperfect, as individuals’ judgments are relative, susceptible to bias, and influenced by external factors.
Self-reporting asks participants to introspect on their feelings and motivations, but these responses can fluctuate daily depending on emotional states and life events. “The judgment I’m making is a relative one,” Dagnall explained, highlighting that people often compare their psychological propensities against different social norms, making it hard to establish consistent data.
A study co-authored by Dagnall and published in May 2026 in the journal *Applied Psychology* explicitly cited self-report data as a limitation. This poses a challenge in determining whether belief in conspiracies harms or helps an individual’s well-being, especially since those drawn to such theories may already possess a skewed perception of reality.
To mitigate these issues, researchers suggest triangulating self-report data with behavioral observations. Techniques such as measuring heart rate variability or galvanic skin response—which tracks electrical conductance during stress—can provide more objective indicators of a person’s psychological state. Retesting participants over time also helps verify the reliability of their initial responses.
Despite these methodological hurdles, Dagnall emphasized that conspiracy beliefs are far more common than many admit. He argued that believing in conspiracies is not a sign of being an outlier; rather, most people occasionally question accepted truths when faced with strange or stressful societal events. History has shown that such skepticism can be healthy, leading to the exposure of government corruption, as seen in the Watergate scandal and the UK’s Partygate controversy.
However, the impact of these beliefs on mental health is a subject of concern. Zuzanna Molenda, a researcher at the Polish Academy of Sciences, pointed to a 2023 study indicating that exposure to conspiracy theories can result in negative emotions, heightened anxiety, and paranoid thoughts. For individuals who already struggle with psychological distress, seeking answers in conspiracy theories may exacerbate their condition rather than alleviate it.
Molenda acknowledged that conspiracy beliefs can offer short-term benefits, such as a sense of explanation, entertainment, or social belonging. Yet, she warned that these do not translate into long-term well-being. “If your search only leads to more uncertainty, more anxiety, and more doubt in your purpose in life, then that’s bad,” Molenda said.
Dagnall concluded that while believers are actively seeking meaning, they often fail to find satisfactory answers. “People who believe in conspiracies are asking questions but not getting answers,” he said, suggesting that while these theories provide a narrative, they rarely bring peace or resolution.
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