Study Finds Conservatives More Likely To Believe Conspiracy Theories

A Swedish study examining political misinformation found conservatives are more likely to believe conspiracy theories and share fake science news than liberals. However, researchers discovered both sides engage equally in motivated reasoning when evaluating political arguments. Conservatives and liberals alike accept flawed logic supporting their views while rejecting sound reasoning that challenges them. The research showed analytical thinking helps spot logical fallacies but doesn’t prevent conspiracy beliefs. People who view truth as subjective rather than objective proved more susceptible to conspiracy theories regardless of political orientation. The findings reflect group averages, not individuals, with modest differences between sides. The study suggests different misinformation types require different solutions. (Story URL)