LogFAQs > #947569045

It's a combination of factors, and can vary from individual to individual. I think some common threads you find in people who subscribe to conspiracy theories are: an emotional reaction to a stimulus, a lack of critical thought, and delusions of self-importance.

As Kurt Vonnegut once said: "People have been hearing fantastic stories since time began. The problem is, they think life is supposed to be like the stories."

Here's a Scientific American article that dives into this as well:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-drawn-to-conspiracy-theories-share-a-cluster-of-psychological-features/