Science evening on conspiracy theories: exposing myths!

Science evening on conspiracy theories: exposing myths!

The fascination with conspiracy theories is increasingly becoming a topic of public discussion and scientific debate. On September 14, 2025, an important public scientific event on the topic of “conspiracy narratives” will take place in the German Mining Museum. Organized by the Department of Social Psychology at Ruhr University, the event is aimed at researchers and interested laypeople. The aim is to develop a deeper understanding of the psychology of conspiracy beliefs and to clarify everyday questions.

During the course of the event, various central questions will be addressed, such as: Who believes in conspiracy theories and why? Is the phenomenon new or are there historical parallels? What influence does the Internet have on the spread of conspiracy beliefs? It also discusses what measures society can take to deal wisely with such stories. The entrance fee is 5 euros and the event starts at 6 p.m.

Insights into research

The speakers include well-known scientists, including Prof. Dr. Roland Imhoff from the University of Mainz and Dr. Pia Lamberty, who works as an expert for the online platform cemas.io. Furthermore, Dr. Lotte Pummerer from the University of Bremen and Prof. Dr. Tobias Rothmund from the University of Jena will speak. Bianca Liebrand from Sekten-Info NRW also provides support.

The psychology of conspiracy belief is a relatively new field within psychological research. The pioneer Ted Goertzel published the first study on this topic in 1994, which showed a general tendency towards belief in conspiracy. Later work, particularly by Jennifer A. Whitson and Adam D. Galinsky in 2008, helped increase interest in the topic and made conspiracy beliefs a relevant area of ​​research.

Psychological aspects of conspiracy belief

Studies suggest that people who are prone to conspiracy beliefs are more likely to look for patterns in seemingly chaotic information. This tendency can be exacerbated by a feeling of loss of control, especially after dramatic social events. For example, belief in conspiracies may increase after the death of a leader, which brings about profound changes. These cognitive biases cause conspiracy believers to see patterns where none exist, encouraging the construction of comprehensive narratives.

Empirical methods such as correlational studies, experiments and meta-analyses are used to examine the facets of conspiracy belief. Correlation simply shows connections, while experiments are used to identify causal relationships. Longitudinal studies are important for observing the development of conspiracy mentalities over time.

Different psychological needs in the context of conspiracy belief also deal with positive perception in one's own group and the need for security in uncertain times. It becomes clear that this belief satisfies existential, social and epistemic needs.

The upcoming event presents an excellent opportunity to explore these issues and learn more about how society and individuals can deal with the challenges of conspiracy beliefs. More information about this can be found on the official website Ruhr University as well as in the publications of bpb and PagePlace to find.