Conspiratorial beliefs function as group security early-warning systems.

Evidence

Conspiracy theories are an early warning system for group security, and like all warning systems they issue false alarms. This may be a price worth paying. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 104

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Conspiratorial belief is mainstream across American demographics. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 48; Marginalized groups retain conspiracy theories longer than groups with variable fortunes. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 107; Conspiracy theories are accessible ways to speak truth to power — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 842 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Predictive threat-detection rests on epistemologically fragile assumptions #qualifies (0.75) — Grégoire Chamayou, A Theory of the Drone, 198
• False-alarm threat perception is favored over missed threats by default #expands (0.72) — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 31