psychology of conspiracy theories

Question 1

conspiracy theory

Answer 1

the belief that a number of actors operate in secret to achieve an unlawful or malevolent hidden goal

main elements
- actors working together
- in secret
- for a bad goal

Question 2

how common is belief in conspiracy theories

Answer 2

• 75% of americans have some sort of conspiratorial belief
• conspiracy beliefs have been around for a long time - no change from 1890 to 2010

Question 3

why are conspiracy theories so common?

Answer 3

• some conspiracy theories turn out to be true
• tuskegee syphilis study
• russian doping scandal

Question 4

consequences of conspiracy theories

Answer 4

important and damaging consequences for:
- health (vaccines)
- voting behaviour and politics
- support for societal problems

Question 5

when are people most vulnerable to conspiracy theories?

Answer 5

-during times where society at large is experiencing more fear and uncertainty (fear/uncertainty=motivation to understand = vigilance=belief in conspiracy theories)
- focused on powerful groups that people already don’t trust

Question 6

belief mindset

Answer 6

belief in supernatural is the strongest predictor of belief in conspiracy theories
- suggests that people that are vulnerable to conspiracy theories are more generally characterized by a belief mindset
- desire to make sense of the world through intuition
- tendency for analytic thinking makes people less likely to believe conspiracy theories and supernatural belieds

Question 7

characteristics of belief mindset

Answer 7

1. illusory pattern perception: seeing meaningful relationships between stimuli where none exists
2. illusory agency detection: seeing intentionality in the actions of others where none exists

Question 8

illusory pattern perception and belief in conspiracy theories

Answer 8

• found that illusory pattern perception, not general pattern perception, is related to belief in conspiracy theories

painting pattern study - people who saw the most patterns in the pollock paintings (no pattern) were the most likely to beleive in conspiracy theories

whereas seeing patterns in the vaseraly paintings (patterns) wasn’t related to conspiracy beliefs

Question 9

intergroup conflict and conspiracy theories

Answer 9

characteristics of intergroup conflict related to conspiracy theories
1. feelings of outgroup threat
- theories are only about threatening outgroups
- creates societal fear and uncertainty

2. ingroup identification
   - us vs them mentality
   - increases supiciousness of other groups
   - motivates a person to try to make sense of an event

Question 10

mashuri and zaduqisti

Answer 10

conspiracy theory study in indonesia - did terrorists who committed attacks in indonesia conspire with western people?

higher identification with muslims predicted greater belief in conspiracy theory, but only if generally believed west to be threatening

Question 11

what are the implications of threat perception and conspiracy theories?

Answer 11

minority groups will be more susceptible to conspiracy theories

people on political extremes will be more susceptible to conspiracy theories

Question 12

what factors combine to create belief and conspiracy theories

Answer 12

situational factors: uncertainty/fear

personal factors: belief mindset