Matthew Facciani

1 week ago | psychologytoday.com | Matthew Facciani |Michelle Quirk

Despite science shaping nearly every aspect of our lives, from the air we breathe to the phones in our pockets, many people still see it as distant, abstract, and disconnected from their everyday experience. While many express trust in science as a concept, there is growing skepticism toward the institutions and organizations that represent it, especially when scientific findings clash with personal or political identities.

3 weeks ago | psychologytoday.com | Matthew Facciani |Kaja Perina

Why do people believe in conspiracy theories—narratives that attempt to explain events or phenomena without strong empirical evidence? These beliefs can seem puzzling, but they aren’t random. Psychology offers insight into what drives them. A new meta-analysis of 279 studies helps explain the “why” behind conspiracy thinking. It finds that these beliefs are linked to three core psychological motives: wanting to make sense of the world, coping with uncertainty, and connecting with others. 1.

3 weeks ago | psychologytoday.com | Matthew Facciani |Kaja Perina

Why do people believe in conspiracy theories—narratives that attempt to explain events or phenomena without strong empirical evidence? These beliefs can seem puzzling, but they aren’t random. Psychology offers insight into what drives them. A new meta-analysis of 279 studies helps explain the “why” behind conspiracy thinking. It finds that these beliefs are linked to three core psychological motives: wanting to make sense of the world, coping with uncertainty, and connecting with others. 1.