I wonder if the same mechanisms could be invovled in conspiracy theorists. Their way of thinking seems very similar.
I also suspect a reinforcement mechanism: it becomes more and more difficult for the subject to deny his own beliefs, as it would require abandonning large parts of his present (and coherent) belief system, leaving him with almost nothing left.
This could explain why patients are reluctant to accept alternative versions afterwards (such as “you have a brain damage”).
It seems to me that many people who believe extremely improbable conspiracy theories may well have undiagnosed brain damage. But you probably couldn’t get most of them to agree to come in for a brain scan.
I wonder if the same mechanisms could be invovled in conspiracy theorists. Their way of thinking seems very similar. I also suspect a reinforcement mechanism: it becomes more and more difficult for the subject to deny his own beliefs, as it would require abandonning large parts of his present (and coherent) belief system, leaving him with almost nothing left.
This could explain why patients are reluctant to accept alternative versions afterwards (such as “you have a brain damage”).
It seems to me that many people who believe extremely improbable conspiracy theories may well have undiagnosed brain damage. But you probably couldn’t get most of them to agree to come in for a brain scan.