The awareness or familiarity that is gained through experience. Example, people read a book with the certainty that the book in their hands exists. Using this knowledge, we are able to make subjective judgements about our beliefs and understandings. Example, the belief in God is a subjective judgement from knowledge/experience.
 
Conspiracy theories are part of how we facilitate our understanding of the world. We use knowledge to form beliefs. Beliefs are less clear predictors of the unknown. 


Understanding the World through Knowledge

The goal to form accurate and complete representations of the world.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Knowledge 
- Ego-defense
- Social Integration

Why People May Believe Conspiracy Theories

Albarracín, D. (2020). Conspiracy beliefs: Knowledge, ego-defense, and social integration. In R. Greifeneder, M. Jaffé, E. J. Newman, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), The psychology of fake news: Accepting, sharing, and correcting misinformation (pp. 196–219). London: Routledge. 

Conspiracy beliefs: Knowledge, ego-defense, and social integration

the goal is to get along with and be valued by other people

Social Integration Motivation

The goal to defend the self from unpleasant emotional feelings such as fear.

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