Conspiracy Theories: The Psychology of Why We Believe in Hidden, Dark Forces INTERVIEW: Professor Eric Oliver

In episode # 29 of podcast Get Psyched! with Dr. Seth, psychologist Dr. Seth Meyers speaks with University of Chicago political science professor and author Eric Oliver about the psychological underpinnings of conspiracy theories. They discuss their growing appeal and explore multiple theories about why people believe them. They discuss specific widespread theories about Barack Obama, cancer and the pharmaceutical industry, 9/11 and others. Oliver highlights how people often frame events through a dualistic lens of good versus evil, and he explains the difference between rationalist and intuitionist thinking. Ultimately, the discussion considers balancing intuition and rationality to make sense of societal issues, pointing to a gap in how public institutions address the emotional needs of the population.