Infants are not born with an understanding of what others think. The first step in developing theory of mind occurs around 6 months of age, when infants begin to gain the ability to detect faces a ...

associate professor of psychology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Dr. van Prooijen said people are often drawn to conspiracy theories after major diasters as a way of coping with their fear.

Belief in conspiracy theories is very widespread, the product of normal human psychology, and extremely influential and dangerous. About half of Americans believe in one or more of the common ones.