Verschwörungstheorien

…. at the same time a universal appeal to conspiracy theories and a type of situation in which they are more likely to occur, even among the more rational.

To the extent that conspiracy theories fill a need for certainty, it is thought they may gain more widespread acceptance in instances when establishment or mainstream explanations contain erroneous information, discrepancies, or ambiguities (Miller, 2002). A conspiracy theory, in this sense, helps explain those ambiguities and "provides a convenient alternative to living with uncertainty" (Zarefsky). Or as Young and colleagues (1990) have put it, "The human desire for explanations of all natural phenomena - a drive that spurs inquiry on many levels - aids the conspiracist in the quest for public acceptance."

Conspiracy thinking is rooted in a desire for control and understanding, triggered by a lack of said control or ambiguous and unsatisfying information. The authors emphasize that the public often lacks access to adequate information to explain historical events (a situational factor).

Aus Steven Novella, The skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, S. 214