Discussion: How conspiracy theories work

Why do intelligent people adopt conspiratorial worldviews? What makes these explanations feel more coherent than mainstream accounts? And why does counter-evidence often strengthen rather than weaken belief?
We'll examine conspiracy theories not as individual delusions but as alternative sense-making systems; exploring the cognitive patterns they exploit and the social conditions that make them thrive.

We'll analyze:

• What emotional and cognitive mechanisms make conspiracy thinking compelling?
• How do feelings of powerlessness, distrust, or alienation feed these narratives?
• What role do community, identity, and belonging play in sustaining belief?
• How do media ecosystems and algorithmic incentives amplify conspiratorial thinking?
• Where's the boundary between justified skepticism and systemic paranoia?

Our approach:
We analyze how systems work rather than debating what should be. This means examining incentive structures, psychological mechanisms, and social dynamics to understand why things function as they do—without immediately reaching for moral judgment.

No preparation required. We'll introduce the topic and think through it together, identifying patterns and mechanisms in real-time.

Format:

• Guided discussion with clear analytical focus
• ~120 minutes
• Small group (aiming for 5-8 people for quality discussion)

This is part of our ongoing series examining how systems, power, and psychology shape society and behavior. If you're interested in understanding the machinery beneath surface-level events, you'll likely find this valuable.