Arrogant people are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories

A new study from the University of Birmingham revealed that people high in spitefulness – a toxic mix of arrogance and resentment – are much more likely to believe conspiracies about secret plots, from vaccines to UFO cover-ups.

Researchers found that arrogance fuels a "knock them down" mood, making individuals prone to distrusting experts and embracing wild claims. 

One scientist said: "Feelings of disadvantage spark spite which, in turn, makes people highly receptive to conspiracy theories."
This isn’t a one-off quirk, as a separate published study backs it up and shows that people high in narcissism tend to ignore facts and dig in behind fringe beliefs, regardless of the evidence against them.

Experts also warn that conspiracies aren’t harmless daydreams – they affect real people. 
Research shows that workplace bullying can feed conspiratorial thinking and those theories, in turn, prey on vulnerable groups, causing fear and panic.

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