Conspiracy theories might be seen as harmless speculations, but research carried out as part of the CONSPIRACY_FX project continues to reveal their significant impact on individuals, groups, and potentially on societies. Specifically, our recent work highlights the consequences of conspiracy theories for people’s interpersonal relationships, reputations, and even possibly for political stability.
The Impact on Relationships
Belief in conspiracy theories appears to be linked to difficulties in people’s personal relationships. Toribio-Flórez et al. (2024) found that people who are in a relationship—or anticipate being in a relationship—with someone who believes in conspiracy theories report lower relationship satisfaction. Conspiracy theories appear to contribute to feelings of social isolation, distance, and mistrust of close others (Douglas et al., 2024; Toribio-Flórez et al. 2023).
These effects could be driven by the way conspiracy theories frame the world—encouraging suspicion, reducing empathy, and making people more likely to perceive others as deceptive or see their motivations as part of a hidden agenda. Over time, these beliefs may erode trust within friendships, families, and even romantic relationships.
The Social Cost of Sharing Conspiracy Theories
Beyond personal relationships, sharing conspiracy theories can shape the way people themselves are perceived. Green et al. (2023) found that individuals who shared anti-science conspiracy theories—especially in professional contexts—were judged negatively, particularly in fields like healthcare and science, where credibility is crucial. A related set of studies (Green et al., 2023) demonstrated that sharing conspiracy theories more broadly can lead to negative social consequences, affecting how trustworthy or competent a person appears to others.
This suggests that embracing and spreading conspiracy beliefs can have tangible social costs, making individuals appear less reliable and ultimately damaging their reputations.
Conspiracy Theories and Political Violence
The spread of conspiracy theories is not just a personal or social issue—it also has political consequences. Green et al. (2023) have discussed how conspiracy theories can contribute to radicalization and political violence, particularly when the conspiracy theory frames a group as an existential threat. Mistrust in institutions, fuelled by conspiracist thinking, can lead people to justify extreme actions, undermining democratic processes and social stability.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
Taken together, these studies illustrate the far-reaching consequences of conspiracy theories for individuals, groups, and potentially for societies. They not only shape beliefs about the world—they seem to influence people’s intentions, behaviours, relationships, reputations, and even societal stability. Understanding these consequences is crucial in addressing the rise of conspiracy thinking and for developing strategies to counteract its negative effects.
You can read more about conspiracy theories and why people believe them in our recent meta-analysis (Biddlestone et al., 2025), research in which we conducted a machine-learning analysis on a large dataset (Douglas et al., 2023), and our analysis of why people can fall down the “rabbit hole” (Sutton & Douglas, 2022). You can read more about these topics, and the consequences of conspiracy theories, in our recent review papers (Douglas & Sutton, 2023; 2024). We have also outlined some thoughts on how to engage with conspiracy believers (Douglas et al., 2024).
You can also keep up to date on all of our ongoing research here.