A Sense of Injustice Can Fuel Misbelief
A Sense of Injustice Can Fuel Misbelief
A powerful emotional driver for misbelief is the feeling of being "hard done by"—a perception of being unfairly singled out for hardship, persecution, or injustice. This sense of personal grievance can make individuals highly receptive to narratives that offer an explanation for their suffering.
When people feel that their lot in life is unfairly difficult compared to others, it creates a strong psychological need to identify a cause. Conspiracy theories are particularly appealing because they often feature a powerful, malevolent group—"the elites," "the deep state"—who can be blamed for the perceived injustice.
This provides a target for resentment and anger, and transforms a feeling of random, chaotic misfortune into a structured narrative of deliberate persecution. This narrative can be emotionally satisfying because:
- It validates the individual's feeling of being wronged.
- It provides a clear enemy to focus on.
- It creates a sense of special knowledge, as the individual feels they have uncovered the "real" reason for their struggles.
The feeling of being hard done by acts as a potent emotional catalyst, pushing individuals to seek out and embrace explanations that align with their sense of grievance, regardless of the factual basis of those explanations.
Tags: #misbelief #psychology #emotion #injustice #grievance #conspiracy-theories