Belief in Science‐Related Conspiracy Theories
Journal of Social Issues,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
81(1)
Published: March 1, 2025
ABSTRACT
Conspiracy
theories
attempt
to
explain
events
and
circumstances
by
attributing
them
the
supposed
secret
actions
of
powerful,
malevolent
groups.
Due
their
associations
with
potentially
harmful
non‐normative
behaviors
at
both
individual
collective
levels,
researchers
have
expressed
particular
concern
over
conspiracy
that
malign
science.
To
better
understand
such
beliefs,
we
conducted
a
national
US
survey
gauge
respondents’
agreement
11
science‐related
political,
psychological,
social
characteristics.
We
find
beliefs
in
specific
represent
two
unique
factors
are
(i)
related
including
political
violence,
vaccine
refusal,
sharing
false
information
online,
(ii)
undergirded
range
personality
traits
attitudes.
conclude
discussing
potential
role
leaders
propagating
implications
for
preventing
or
reversing
theory
beliefs.
Language: Английский
Need for cognitive closure, political trust, and belief in conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic
Frontiers in Social Psychology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
2
Published: Jan. 22, 2025
Introduction
This
research
examines
the
effect
of
individual
differences
in
need
for
cognitive
closure
and
political
trust
on
endorsement
COVID-19
conspiracy
theories.
We
hypothesize
that
individuals
high
low
will
seize
accounts
pandemic.
In
contrast,
we
expect
are
more
likely
to
disregard
conspiracies
surrounding
Method
To
test
our
preregistered
hypotheses,
rely
data
from
multiple
waves
a
representative
survey
among
German
population
(
N
=
2,883).
The
general
was
assessed
before
beginning
pandemic,
while
belief
theories
specific
handling
crisis
fielded
during
second
wave
Results
find
with
accept
narratives,
but
size
is
small.
At
same
time,
pre-pandemic
concurrent
medical
institutions
strongly
negatively
related
beliefs.
no
support
moderating
trust.
Conclusion
study
finds
only
small
effects
strong
explaining
It
underlines
importance
lack
democratic
societies
age
misinformation
post-truth
politics.
Language: Английский
All you'll feel is doom and gloom: Multiple perspectives on the associations between economic anxiety and conspiracy beliefs
Political Psychology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 17, 2025
Abstract
The
article
investigates
whether
and
how
adherence
to
conspiracy
beliefs
(CBs)
about
COVID‐19
pandemic
might
be
associated
with
(and
cause)
economic
anxiety
over
various
cultural
settings
time.
First,
we
examined
the
extent
which
CBs
predicted
using
European
Social
Survey
data,
round
10,
from
17
countries
(Study
1).
Second,
data
a
balanced
(in
terms
of
age,
gender,
education,
region)
Slovak
sample,
employed
cross‐lagged
panel
analysis
determine
direction
association
between
2).
Study
1
revealed
that
was
significantly
higher
levels
across
contexts.
2
compellingly
showed
increased
sense
time,
whereas
reverse
causal
path
consistently
nonsignificant.
This
work
provides
evidence
may
increasingly
adverse
subjective
appraisals
realities.
We
discuss
our
results
can
contribute
understanding
curbing
could
also
alleviate
anxiety.
Finally,
recommend
research
agenda
better
understand
psychological
boundary
mechanisms
accounting
for
these
effects.
Language: Английский
Is there anything good about conspiracy beliefs? Belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories is associated with benefits to well-being
PLoS ONE,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
20(3), P. e0319896 - e0319896
Published: March 21, 2025
Recent
theorizing
suggests
that
people
gravitate
toward
conspiracy
theories
during
difficult
times
because
such
beliefs
promise
to
alleviate
threats
psychological
motives.
Surprisingly,
however,
previous
research
has
largely
failed
find
beneficial
intrapersonal
effects
of
endorsing
an
event
theory
for
outcomes
like
well-being.
The
current
provides
correlational
evidence
a
link
between
well-being
and
belief
by
teasing
apart
this
relation
from
(1)
the
influence
experiencing
turmoil
nudges
believing
in
first
place
(2)
conspiracist
ideation—the
general
tendency
engage
conspiratorial
thinking.
Across
two
studies
we
that,
when
statistically
accounting
degree
economic
recently
experienced
ideation,
greater
COVID-19
concurrently
predicts
less
stress
longitudinally
contentment.
However,
contentment
diminishes
size
over
time.
These
findings
suggest
despite
their
numerous
negative
consequences,
are
associated
with
at
least
temporary
benefits.
Language: Английский
They are Hiding the Truth and Plotting: Conspiracy Beliefs Among Latinos
The Journal of Race Ethnicity and Politics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 1 - 32
Published: April 4, 2025
Abstract
What
factors
explain
Latino
support
for
conspiracy
theories?
Contemporary
scholarship
offers
valuable
insights
on
how
psychological,
social,
and
political
shape
theories.
At
the
same
time,
scholarly
understanding
of
dynamics
that
foster
beliefs
among
racial
ethnic
minorities
is
much
more
limited.
Utilizing
survey
responses
from
than
1,000
Latinos,
we
theorize
explicitly
about
their
conspiracies.
Consistent
with
highlighting
in-group
diversity
reveal
significant
differences
Latinos
in
propensity
to
harbor
beliefs.
Some
influence
conspiratorial
statements
align
broader
literature,
other
results
appear
unique
Americans.
Religiosity,
lack
trust
institutions,
conservative
ideology
are
associated
higher
levels
Latinos.
We
also
find
later
generations,
those
who
consume
Spanish
media,
disagree
face
discrimination
White
privilege
exists
likely
believe
certain
Language: Английский
On the relationship between age and conspiracy beliefs
Political Psychology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 1, 2024
Abstract
Research
on
conspiracy
theories
has
long
turned
a
blind
eye
the
role
of
age
in
explaining
beliefs.
Few
studies
include
and
those
that
do
have
yet
to
consider
how
why
matters
when
it
comes
spread
theories.
In
this
article,
we
investigate
relationship
between
beliefs
with
two
complementary
studies.
Study
1,
conduct
meta‐analysis
large
sample
published
2014
2024
(
k
=
191;
N
374,224).
The
results
reveal
small
but
robust
negative
association
endorsement.
2,
use
an
original
multinational
survey
three
potential
mechanisms
may
explain
6098).
We
youth's
higher
by
their
predisposition
unconventional
styles
political
participation,
lower
levels
self‐esteem,
general
disaffection.
Language: Английский
Germany under the Tinfoil Hat? The Associations of the Big Five Personality Traits and Coronavirus Conspiracy Beliefs with the Intention to Get Vaccinated
Journal of Infection and Public Health,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
17(9), P. 102519 - 102519
Published: Aug. 17, 2024
The
governments
of
democracies
worldwide
are
relying
on
the
active
cooperation
their
populations
to
combat
COVID-19.
Simultaneously,
beliefs
in
conspiracy
theories
surrounding
pandemic
have
flourished.
present
article
examines
effects
big
five
personality
traits
and
intention
get
vaccinated
against
COVID-19
Germany.
This
correlational,
cross-sectional
mediation
analysis
was
conducted
using
data
from
a
nationwide
German
household
panel
(N
=
1390).
Openness
experience
(β
−.082,
p
.004)
neuroticism
.112,
<
.001)
showed
direct
beliefs,
while
had
strongest
effect
vaccination
−.424,
.001).
Indirect
positive
openness
.035,
.005)
negative
−.047,
via
were
identified,
with
strict
sense
only
for
openness.
No
or
total
could
be
found.
associated,
although
indirectly,
vaccinated.
Compared
similar
studies
COVID-19-related
outcomes,
we
found
slightly
higher
proportions
explained
variance
significantly
intention.
In
order
increase
willingness
vaccinated,
targeted
uniform
information
measures
should
provided
addressing
feelings
security,
not
being
excluded,
activation
critical
reasoning.
Language: Английский