Conspiracy theory

An explanation of an event or situation that alleges a secret plot by powerful people or groups, often without reliable supporting evidence.

Conspiracy mentality: A generalized tendency to explain events through hidden plots by powerful actors. It turns suspicions about one event into a broader habit of interpreting events.
Secrecy: The deliberate concealment of information from some people or the public. Real secrecy makes hidden plots possible but does not establish any particular allegation.
Political propaganda: Communication designed to shape political beliefs or behavior, often through selective or misleading presentation. Political actors can circulate plot narratives to discredit opponents or mobilize supporters.
Conspiracy: An agreement between two or more people to pursue an unlawful or harmful goal in secret. Actual conspiracies exist; the term does not make every allegation of one a theory without evidence.
Radicalization: The process by which a person or group adopts increasingly extreme beliefs or methods. Some conspiracy narratives can justify hostility or political violence.
Proportionality bias: The tendency to expect major events to have causes as consequential as their outcomes. It can make a secret plot seem more plausible than an ordinary cause for a major event.
Evidence: Information or observations used to support or challenge a claim. Assessing a conspiracy claim requires distinguishing evidence from suspicion and inference.
Scapegoating: The practice of blaming a person or group for problems they did not cause alone or at all. Conspiracy narratives can turn complex crises into accusations against a targeted group.
Whistleblower: A person who exposes alleged wrongdoing or danger within an organization. Credible disclosures can reveal genuine secret misconduct through testable evidence.
Political polarization: The widening separation of political groups in beliefs, identities, or policy preferences. Plot narratives can portray opponents as existential enemies rather than legitimate rivals.

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