Conspiracy theories reject the accepted explanation for harmful or tragic events in favor of an explanation focusing on the actions of a powerful group. Conspiracy theories are often propagated at times of societal unrest, namely during war, economic depression, natural disaster, and pandemic. Conspiracy theories are not necessarily created to intentionally manipulate an audience, but are generally lacking in legitimate evidence. Many include false information or false conclusions. Much like propaganda, conspiracy theories often mix truth with falsehood, making it harder for less critical audiences to distinguish the two.