The Plot Thickens: A Sociology of Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories are a constant feature of human society but have recently risen in prominence with the flurry of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and their public display in social media. Conspiracy theories should be studied not only because of their potential harm but also because they are related...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of sociology 2024-08, Vol.50 (1), p.191-207
Main Authors: Rao, Hayagreeva, Greve, Henrich R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
community threat
Conspiracy
conspiracy theory
COVID-19
fake news
Misinformation
rumors
social affordances
social bricolage
Social media
Social processes
Sociological theory
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Summary:Conspiracy theories are a constant feature of human society but have recently risen in prominence with the flurry of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and their public display in social media. Conspiracy theories should be studied not only because of their potential harm but also because they are related to other sources of misinformation such as folk theories, rumors, and fake news. Recent understanding of their spread has shifted the focus from investigating the believers to characteristics of the social processes that motivate and persuade, with a new view of the conspiracy theorist as a bricoleur dealing with threats through social (re)construction of reality. These tendencies are strengthened by the markets for attention and approval constructed by social media platforms, and bots also amplify them. We identify an agenda of multiple important and urgent paths for future research that will help understanding of conspiracy theories in society.
ISSN:0360-0572
1545-2115
DOI:10.1146/annurev-soc-030222-031142