Why do brains love conspiracy theories?

Why are conspiracy theories a natural output of the brain? What do they have to do with puzzle-solving, cognitive dissonance, ingroups/outgroups, and storytelling? If you hear an unlikely explanation for something, what are effective and ineffective ways to assess it? Join this week’s episode to understand from the point of view of the brain why conspiracy theories have always been so pervasive in human societies.

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Meaning and knowledge: Why stories beat facts. By JAMES BERNARD MURPHY Published: 4/17/2021

David Robert Grimes. Good Thinking: Why Flawed Logic Puts Us All at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World.

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