Welcome to the “Psychology Behind Conspiracy Theory” Course!
The Baitman’s Institute is a satire project. It exists to show how easily polished misinformation can spread, and how confidently misleading narratives often outperform careful truth.
But the PBCT is different. This FREE course is not satire. This course is sincere, practical, and built for real people living in a noisy information world.
Our real mission is simple; fewer people falling prey to misinformation, conspiracy theory, and misleading narratives, including ourselves.
Why do humans believe things that aren’t true?
That’s what this course was built to explore.
✦ What this course is really about
Conspiratorial thinking isn’t about intelligence. It isn’t about being “smart” or “stupid.” It’s about how human brains work under pressure. It’s about pattern-seeking, emotion, identity, distrust, and the need for certainty, especially during confusing or unstable times.
Most people are never taught how vulnerable we all are to these mental traps. PBCT exists to make those vulnerabilities visible, understandable, and manageable, without judgment.
- ⟡ No jargon, no politics, no agenda.
- ⟡ Clear explanations, not lectures.
- ⟡ Tools for understanding how belief forms, and how it can quietly mislead.
This free, self-paced course is for anyone who has ever wondered; why do some people fall for conspiracy theories? Could that happen to me? How do I stay curious without getting fooled? 
At the very end of the course, you’ll also find a short self-assessment quiz. It isn’t a test, and there are no right or wrong answers. It’s simply a light, reflective way to see where you might roughly stand when it comes to susceptibility to misinformation and conspiratorial thinking, many people find it surprisingly insightful.
If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, you’re in the right place.
✦ A note on the term “conspiracy theory”
The phrase “conspiracy theory” has a complicated history. At times it’s been used casually. At times it’s been used dismissively. And it’s worth saying plainly; real conspiracies do happen. Humans coordinate, conceal, and deceive, sometimes on very large scales.
So why use the term here? Because it remains the most recognizable shorthand for a specific psychological pattern; when complex, uncertain realities collapse into a single hidden explanation that feels emotionally satisfying and difficult to challenge. PBCT uses the term for clarity, not condemnation.
So if we can move past the terminology… we hope that what awaits you in this course is genuinely fascinating.
This course is designed to be neutral, evidence-informed, and intended to help people think more clearly.
Estimated time to complete: 30–45 minutes
(This course is best viewed on a browser, not mobile)