> I wonder if there's a psychological reasoning underneath.
boredom
A safe, regulated, mechanically functioning society day after day is boring as hell†. Catastrophe is one of the easiest changes to imagine and fantasize about. Which is probably also why dystopian cyberpunk is more popular than utopian sci-fi.
† If you don't get enough leisure time or have enough activities to fill it with.
I think what's truly missing is purpose and community, not leisure time although you may have left that implied.
Many want their life to be special, to be part of something bigger. Modern life can lack a sense of purpose and community, so even with infinite entertainment at our fingertips we still yearn for something deeper. Like you said, conspiracy or chaos can fill those desires. You get to be part of an "in-group" and be part of something bigger. Life just gets a bit more dramatic and interesting. Probably why cults can exist at all as well.
I used to wonder how anyone could be stupid enough to fall in with a cult, but after living a traditional modern 9-5 for a while I can totally see the hole that was missing that a cult, religion, conspiracy or commune would fill.
boredom
A safe, regulated, mechanically functioning society day after day is boring as hell†. Catastrophe is one of the easiest changes to imagine and fantasize about. Which is probably also why dystopian cyberpunk is more popular than utopian sci-fi.
† If you don't get enough leisure time or have enough activities to fill it with.