The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories: Causes, Consequences, an…

THEORY & PSYCHOLOGY

2023 •

In psychological research, conspiracy theories are often defined as explanations of events involving the hidden action of a malevolent group. Such a definition raises a false negative problem, as it does not capture conspiracy theories that are not about events. It also raises a false positive problem because it categorises any conspiracy-based explanation as a conspiracy theory, even though distinguishing conspiracy theories from other conspiracy claims is at the core of many attempts to define this notion. Based on more elaborated definitions and a conceptual re-engineering approach (Brun, 2016), we propose that conspiracy theories can be defined as claims that the public is being pervasively lied to regarding some aspect(s) of reality, to allow some group(s) to enact a harmful, self-serving agenda. Compared to other definitions, ours has the advantage of not taking position regarding the truth value of conspiracy theories, making it highly operative for psychological research.

Gabor Orosz, Beáta Bőthe, Christine Roland-Levy

Conspiracy theory (CT) beliefs can be harmful. How is it possible to reduce them effectively? Three reduction strategies were tested in an online experiment using general and well-known CT beliefs on a comprehensive randomly assigned Hungarian sample (N = 813): exposing rational counter CT arguments, ridiculing those who hold CT beliefs, and empathizing with the targets of CT beliefs. Several relevant individual differences were measured. Rational and ridiculing arguments were effective in reducing CT, whereas empathizing with the targets of CTs had no effect. Individual differences played no role in CT reduction, but the perceived intelligence and competence of the individual who conveyed the CT belief-reduction information contributed to the success of the CT belief reduction. Rational arguments targeting the link between the object of belief and its characteristics appear to be an effective tool in fighting conspiracy theory beliefs.

Journal of Political Philosophy

2009 •

PSYC200 UNE

2022 •

So called ‘conspiracy theories’ can be described as ‘attempts to explain the hidden causes of significant social and political events and circumstances with claims of secret plots by two or more powerful actors' (Douglas et al, 2019, p. 4). Social psychologist Karl Popper popularised the term in 1945, during the seventh year of worldwide war. Two decades later amid global fear that the two most powerful nations on earth, with their nuclear arsenals pointed at each other, may end it for us all, the term gained even greater salience. Belief in conspiracy theories increases in times of uncertainty (van Prooijen & Jostmann, 2013). Much like the mental gymnastics we all perform to maintain positive self-regard, conspiracy beliefs help some individuals and groups increase certainty, control, and security (Douglas, Sutton, & Cichocka, 2017), and reduce the cognitive dissonance between their views of the world and the world they view. In this way, ‘conspiracy beliefs’ serve extremely important, and protective, social psychological purposes.

Frontiers in Psychology

2013 •

Alan Pickering, Chris French

2020 •

Objective: We sought to replicate and extend research on the personological correlates of conspiracy beliefs by examining their associations with abnormal- and normal-range personality domain-level traits and, for the first time, lower-order personality facets; we also examined internalizing symptoms. Method: The study comprised four samples of community and student participants (Ntotal=1,927), and examined the cross-sectional relations between self-reported conspiratorial ideation and measures of (a) the six-factor model of general personality, (b) intellectual humility, (c) personality disorder traits (narcissism, psychopathy, disinhibition), and (d) internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, anger). Results: Agreeableness and conscientiousness were significant negative correlates of conspiracy beliefs, although other general personality dimensions tended to manifest negligible associations. Significant associations between lower-order personality facets and conspiracy beliefs, ...

Romanian Journal of Intelligence Studies

2023 •

The present research addresses one of the most pressing current challenges in fighting disinformation: conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories have always existed in societies, however, at present, they have gained momentum due to their easy spread and appeal in social media. Moreover, they have begun to corrupt people's understanding of the world and their willingness to listen to experts and authorities in times of crisis and not only, thus threatening not only the further development of societies but also the very health and security of the communities they lived in. The present research has two main objectives. Firstly, it analyses what conspiracy theories are and what their most prominent characteristics are, and, secondly, it examines three case studies to verify if the traits identified in the literature are reflected in actual conspiracy theories. We believe that this analysis can form the basis for better countering and mitigating the effects conspiracy theories have on democratic societies.