History has shown that, in times of uncertainty, people often like to jump to their own conclusions. This is how conspiracy theories are born, says US author and cultural historian Colin Dickey. Anxiety, paranoia, loneliness and a yearning for control in often uncontrollable circumstances all lead to conspiracy theories' proliferation, he tells ABC RN's Late Night Live. And yet, while social media may have accelerated their accessibility, society's obsession with them began long before the rise of the internet. Fear and early conspiracy theories Conspiracy theories in the US can be traced back hundreds of years, says Dr Dickey, whose...