Why Do Americans Endorse Conspiracy Theories

Why do Americans do That? Have you ever wondered why Americans endorse conspiracy theories or why some Americans choose to carry weapons? Why do Americans indulge in zombie movies? Americans tend to feel powerless and by believing in conspiracy theories, carrying weapons, and drowning in fictional zombie movies they feel more in control. Americans tend to be concerned with their own interests and typically disregard accepted and appropriate standards to achieve them. Viren Swami, a psychology professor who studies conspiracy belief at The University of Westminster says that “a conspiracy theory isn’t so much a response to a single event as it is an expression of an overarching worldview.” (Baker 343) Ultimately, those who believe in conspiracy’s tend have some sort of parallel view on the situation. For example, many Americans believe that 9-11 was a conspiracy, the reason being that they do not trust our government due to previous conspiracy’s that have been proven to be true, such as the Watergate Scandal. Americans feel in control especially if they have a confirmation bias …show more content…
Unlike current events in the world, where most Americans are powerless, they can be in control of the events occurring in the movie or show. They choose these movies to escape their everyday reality, and their feeling of powerlessness, when they shut the television off the threat will cease to exist. “The living dead are a fictional threat, as opposed to tsunamis or Ativan flu. No matter how scary or realistic the particular story may be, their unquestionably fictional nature makes them “safe”.” (Brooks 361) You can watch the news, and be inundated with horrific world events, but after you turn it off the reality is still there or you can turn on a zombie movie, and easily shut it off, knowing it is