Why Smart People Fall for Conspiracy Theories - YouTube
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Intelligence doesn't immunize against conspiracy theories — and the psychological reason why reveals a surprising flaw in how smart minds handle uncertainty.
Motivated ReasoningProportionality BiasDunning-Kruger EffectCognitive Dissonance
Theory Briefing
- High IQ individuals are not immune to conspiracy beliefs — their analytical skills can actually be weaponized to rationalize misinformation.
- The video explores how pattern recognition, a cognitive strength, becomes a liability when the brain invents connections that aren't there.
- Motivated reasoning means smart people are often better at defending what they already believe, not at finding the truth.