Editing Conspiracy theory (section)

==Consequences==
[[File:Das jüdische Komplott Parole der Woche December 1941 crop.jpg|thumb|Third Reich Nazi antisemitic propaganda poster entitled ''Das jüdische Komplott'' ("The Jewish Conspiracy")]]
Historically, conspiracy theories have been closely linked to [[prejudice]], [[witch hunt]]s, [[war]]s, and [[genocide]]s.<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019"/><ref name="Goertzel2010"/> They are often strongly believed by the perpetrators of [[terrorist]] attacks, and were used as justification by [[Timothy McVeigh]], [[Anders Breivik]] and [[Brenton Tarrant]], as well as by governments such as [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019"/> [[AIDS denialism]] by the government of [[South Africa]], motivated by conspiracy theories, caused an estimated 330,000 deaths from AIDS,<ref name="Thresher-Andrews2013"/><ref name="SimelelaVenter2015">{{cite journal|last1=Simelela|first1=Nono|last2=Venter|first2=W. D. Francois|last3=Pillay|first3=Yogan|last4=Barron|first4=Peter|title=A Political and Social History of HIV in South Africa|journal=Current HIV/AIDS Reports|volume=12|issue=2|year=2015|pages=256–261|doi=10.1007/s11904-015-0259-7|pmid=25929959|s2cid=23483038}}</ref><ref name="BurtonGiddy2015">{{cite journal|last1=Burton|first1=Rosie|last2=Giddy|first2=Janet|last3=Stinson|first3=Kathryn|title=Prevention of mother-to-child transmission in South Africa: an ever-changing landscape|journal=Obstetric Medicine|volume=8|issue=1|year=2015|pages=5–12|doi=10.1177/1753495X15570994|pmid=27512452|pmc=4934997}}</ref> while belief in [[GMO conspiracy theories|conspiracy theories about genetically modified foods]] led the government of [[Zambia]] to reject food aid during a [[famine]],<ref name="Goertzel2010"/> at a time when 3 million people in the country were suffering from [[hunger]].<ref name="BrossardShanahan2007">{{cite book|author1=Dominique Brossard|author2=James Shanahan|author3=T. Clint Nesbitt|title=The Media, the Public and Agricultural Biotechnology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dq1frsw9alkC|year=2007|publisher=CABI|isbn=978-1-84593-204-6|pages=343, 353}}</ref>

Conspiracy theories are a significant obstacle to improvements in [[public health]].<ref name="Goertzel2010"/><ref name="GlickBooth2014"/> People who believe in health-related conspiracy theories are less likely to follow [[medical advice]], and more likely to use [[alternative medicine]] instead.<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019"/> Conspiratorial [[anti-vaccination]] beliefs, such as [[Big Pharma conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories about pharmaceutical companies]], can result in reduced vaccination rates and have been linked to outbreaks of [[vaccine-preventable disease]]s.<ref name="Thresher-Andrews2013"/><ref name="Goertzel2010">{{cite journal|last1=Goertzel|first1=Ted|title=Conspiracy theories in science|journal=EMBO Reports|volume=11|issue=7|year=2010|pages=493–499|doi=10.1038/embor.2010.84|pmid=20539311|pmc=2897118}}</ref><ref name="PrematungeCorace2012">{{cite journal|last1=Prematunge|first1=Chatura|last2=Corace|first2=Kimberly|last3=McCarthy|first3=Anne|last4=Nair|first4=Rama C.|last5=Pugsley|first5=Renee|last6=Garber|first6=Gary|title=Factors influencing pandemic influenza vaccination of healthcare workers—A systematic review|journal=Vaccine|volume=30|issue=32|year=2012|pages=4733–4743|doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.05.018|pmid=22643216}}</ref><ref name="GlickBooth2014">{{cite journal|last1=Glick|first1=Michael|last2=Booth|first2=H. Austin|title=Conspiracy ideation|journal=The Journal of the American Dental Association|volume=145|issue=8|year=2014|pages=798–799|doi=10.1016/S0002-8177(14)60181-1|pmid=25082925}}</ref> Health-related conspiracy theories often inspire resistance to [[water fluoridation]], and contributed to the impact of the [[Lancet MMR autism fraud]].<ref name="Goertzel2010"/><ref name="GlickBooth2014"/>

Conspiracy theories are a fundamental component of a wide range of radicalized and extremist groups, where they may play an important role in reinforcing the ideology and psychology of their members as well as further radicalizing their beliefs.<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019"/><ref name="Brotherton2015-2"/> These conspiracy theories often share common themes, even among groups that would otherwise be fundamentally opposed, such as the [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories found among political extremists on both the [[far right]] and [[far left]].<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019"/> More generally, belief in conspiracy theories is associated with holding extreme and uncompromising viewpoints, and may help people in maintaining those viewpoints.<ref name="Douglas 538–542"/> While conspiracy theories are not always present in extremist groups, and do not always lead to violence when they are, they can make the group more extreme, provide an enemy to direct hatred towards, and isolate members from the rest of society. Conspiracy theories are most likely to inspire violence when they call for urgent action, appeal to prejudices, or demonize and scapegoat enemies.<ref name="Brotherton2015-2">{{cite book|author=Robert Brotherton|title=Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories|chapter=Chapter 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awrcCQAAQBAJ|date=19 November 2015|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4729-1564-1}}</ref>

Conspiracy theorizing in the workplace can also have economic consequences. For example, it leads to lower job satisfaction and lower commitment, resulting in workers being more likely to leave their jobs.<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019"/> Comparisons have also been made with the effects of workplace rumors, which share some characteristics with conspiracy theories and result in both decreased productivity and increased stress. Subsequent effects on managers include reduced profits, reduced trust from employees, and damage to the company's image.<ref name="DouglasUscinski2019">{{cite journal|last1=Douglas|first1=Karen M.|last2=Uscinski|first2=Joseph E.|last3=Sutton|first3=Robbie M.|last4=Cichocka|first4=Aleksandra|last5=Nefes|first5=Turkay|last6=Ang|first6=Chee Siang|last7=Deravi|first7=Farzin|title=Understanding Conspiracy Theories|journal=Political Psychology|volume=40|issue=S1|year=2019|pages=3–35|doi=10.1111/pops.12568|doi-access=free|hdl=10261/369501|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref name="DiFonzoBordia1994">{{cite journal|last1=DiFonzo|first1=Nicholas|last2=Bordia|first2=Prashant|last3=Rosnow|first3=Ralph L.|title=Reining in rumors|journal=Organizational Dynamics|volume=23|issue=1|year=1994|pages=47–62|doi=10.1016/0090-2616(94)90087-6}}</ref>

Conspiracy theories can divert attention from important social, political, and scientific issues.<ref name="Jolley2013">{{cite journal|last1=Jolley|first1=Daniel|title=The detrimental nature of conspiracy theories|journal=PsyPAG Quarterly|volume=1|year=2013|issue=88|pages=35–39|doi=10.53841/bpspag.2013.1.88.35|s2cid=255910928|url=http://www.psypag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Issue-88.pdf}}</ref><ref name="SciAm2013"/> In addition, they have been used to discredit scientific evidence to the general public or in a legal context. Conspiratorial strategies also share characteristics with those used by lawyers who are attempting to discredit expert testimony, such as claiming that the experts have ulterior motives in testifying, or attempting to find someone who will provide statements to imply that expert opinion is more divided than it actually is.<ref name="Goertzel2010"/>

It is possible that conspiracy theories may also produce some compensatory benefits to society in certain situations. For example, they may help people identify governmental deceptions, particularly in repressive societies, and encourage [[government transparency]].<ref name="SunsteinVermeule2009"/><ref name="Jolley2013"/> However, real conspiracies are normally revealed by people working within the system, such as [[whistleblower]]s and [[journalist]]s, and most of the effort spent by conspiracy theorists is inherently misdirected.<ref name="Brotherton2015-2"/> The most dangerous conspiracy theories are likely to be those that incite violence, scapegoat disadvantaged groups, or spread [[misinformation]] about important societal issues.<ref name="Brotherton2015-e">{{cite book|author=Robert Brotherton|title=Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories|chapter=Epilogue|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awrcCQAAQBAJ|date=19 November 2015|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4729-1564-1}}</ref>