From the moon landings being fake to the belief Obama is reptile, it seems some conspiracy theories never die.

Now scientists claim a lack of positive parenting in a child's life can make them into adults who believe in such theories.

New research claims that people who have had a bad childhood develop an 'anxious attachment style'.

As well as finding it difficult to interact with others, these people are also more likely to hold strange worldviews and political attitudes, researchers found.

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Scientists now say belief in improbable theories - such as the moon landing being fake - stem from negative experiences in childhood - particularly people who grew up without their parents around. Pictured is astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon

A classic sign of attachment anxiety is someone who has widely varying feelings about a friendship or relationship from one day until the next.

These people also spend a lot of time thinking about what other people want and swing from being strongly attached to wanting independence.

In two studies, Ricky Green and Professor Karen Douglas, of the University of Kent's School of Psychology, found these people were more likely to have absent parents at the start of their life.

In the first study researchers looked at 246 participants.

They found 'participants higher in anxious attachment style showed a greater tendency to believe in conspiracy theories', researchers, led by Dr Green and Dr Douglas, wrote in their paper published in Personality and Individual Differences.

'Further, this relationship remained significant when accounting for other known predictors of conspiracy belief', researchers wrote.

Other variables such as right-wing authoritarianism, interpersonal trust and demographic factors also made someone more likely to believe in conspiracy theories.

However, these were less significant than the effect of an unhappy childhood.

Diana, Princess of Wales (pictured) inside the lift at the Ritz Hotel the evening before she died. The footage has been shown to the jury at the inquest into her death. Belief Princess Diana was assassinated by the British Secret Service is a popular conspiracy theory

In the second study researchers looked at 230 individuals and found people with anxious attachment styles were more likely to believe in specific conspiracy theories and conspiracy theories about groups.

'The current studies add to the body of research investigating the individual differences predictors of conspiracy belief, demonstrating that conspiracy belief may, to some degree, have roots in early childhood experiences', researchers wrote.

Previous research has suggested conspiracy theories are believed by people who have lost an election or influence.

According to Joseph Uscinski, author of 'American Conspiracy Theories,' people who have lost something look to conspiracy theories to 'explain that loss.'

Phil Wolf, owner of Wolf Automotive used car dealership, stands in front of a billboard on his auto lot on November 21, 2009 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Wolf, who paid $2,500 for the sign, is a supporter of the 'birther' conspiracy, which questions President Obama's citizenship

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR CONSPIRACY THEORIES? From the moon landing being fake to the belief Princess Diana was assassinated by the British Secret Service, there are a seemingly endless range of conspiracy theories that, despite evidence to the contrary, many believe are true. Scientists now say belief in these improbable theories stem from negative experiences in childhood - particularly people who grew up without their parents around. Here are a list of some of the most commonly held conspiracy theories: There is a secret Illuminati group controlling the world

President Obama wasn't born in the US

Princess Diana was assassinated by the British Secret Service

The attacks on 9/11 were orchestrated by the US government

Shape-shifting reptilian aliens are running the world

JFK's assassination was part of a conspiracy

Aliens are contacting us

The moon landing was faked

FDA is withholding the cure for cancer

Chemtrails are airlines deliberately spraying a mixture of toxic 'mind control' chemicals into the air

Vaccines cause autism Advertisement

Speaking to Time Magazine, Uscinksi said this can be observed by the popularity of certain conspiracy theories when the presidency changes.

For example, when President George W. Bush was in power with Dick Cheney as his Vice President, there were theories that the Blackwater protection company masterminding the Iraq war to obtain oil.

And when President Obama was elected to office, a conspiracy surrounding his birth place emerged.

Some people believe that President Obama was born in Kenya, and not Hawaii - despite President Obama releasing his birth certificate proving he was indeed born in Hawaii.

Aside from people who are out of power tending to believe in conspiracy theories, certain demographic factors can be linked to these beliefs.

When President Obama was elected, a conspiracy surrounding his birth place emerged. Some people believe that President Obama was born in Kenya, and not Hawaii - despite President Obama releasing his birth certificate (pictured) proving he was indeed born in Hawaii

For example, a study published in March found that being unmarried, belonging to a particular ethnic minority (for example African American or Hispanic) and low religious attendance were all associated with a belief in conspiracy.

In addition, people with lower household incomes averaging at $47,193 (£34,300) were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than those who had higher household incomes of $63,824 (£46,300).

Another possible reason for why people believe in conspiracy theories is that it makes them feel 'special.'

The reptilian conspiracy theory is the idea that shape-shifting reptilian aliens are running the world by taking on a human form and gaining political power. Pictured is President Obama imagined as a reptilian

A May 2017 study found that a small part of what motivates people to endorse conspiracy theories is the desire to stand out and be unique.

This might also explain why some people continue to believe in conspiracy theories despite evidence disproving them - for example, the continued conspiratorial belief that President Obama was not born in the US despite him releasing his birth certificate.

In order to combat conspiratorial beliefs, a 2015 study involving parents with anti-vaccination attitudes found that shaming or criticizing people for their belief does not work, nor did trying to dispel the myths about the dangers of vaccination.

Instead, the parents were more likely to be responsive to warnings (in the form of images and stories) about the severity of these diseases, and that greater awareness of the risks associated with failure to take preventive action improves attitudes to vaccinations.

As such, having conversation with people about the consequences of their conspiratorial beliefs can help change their minds.

The chemtrails conspiracy is the idea that airlines are deliberately spraying a mixture of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, with undisclosed goals that may have to do with weather modification or mind control. However, contrails are actually made up of water vapor



