GettygettyConspiracy theories are driven by a surprising factor, according to British psychologists - spitefulness.There are already three established motivations for conspiracy thinking: epistemic motives - a need to understand the worlda need for security, known as existential motives, and a need for social significance, or social motives.And, over three studies involving 1000 participants, psychologists from the University of Staffordshire and the University of Birmingham looked at how spitefulness interacted with all three.And, they found, not only were higher levels of spite associated with a stronger belief in conspiracy theories, spite that actually caused people with the three predictors to believe them."We are not suggesting that people consciously choose to be spiteful when believing and spreading conspiracy theories," said co-author Megan Birney from the University of Birmingham."Instead, our findings suggest that feelings of disadvantage in those three areas can provoke a common psychological spitefulresponse, one that makes individuals more receptive to believing conspiracy theories."The research has implications for the best strategies for countering conspiracy theories. The authors found, for example, that the strongest relationship was between belief, spite and uncertainty about the world.And, they suggest, this could be dealt with via more effective science communication and media literacy around complex topics aimed at countering misinformation.The researchers also suggest that efforts to combat belief in conspiracy theories shouldn't simply focus on countering misinformation but also address the social and political conditions that foster feelings of disenfranchisement, precariousness and competition, such as such as financial insecurity and inequality.For those who feel disadvantaged, they said, accepting and propagating conspiracy theories can undermine the status of professionals and institutions, while at the same time bolstering the conspiracy theorists own ego, identity, and autonomy."Spiteful psychological motives tend to emerge when people feel at a competitive disadvantage, often when we feel uncertain, threatened or undervalued," explained lead researcher Dr David Gordon from University of Staffordshire."Spite is the desire to level the playing field by trying to knock someone else down because it feels like there is no other choice. Conspiracy theories can serve as a way for individuals to satisfy this desire through rejecting expert opinion and scientific consensus."Meanwhile, the authors suggest, their results have implications for how responses to conspiracy theories should be formulated. It's worth bearing in mind, they said, that those sharing them may not believe completely what they claim - instead, they may simply be trying to cause harm and distress.