All posts tagged "Conspiracytheories"

New research published in the British Journal of Psychology shows that Jewish individuals who believe antisemitic conspiracy theories are prevalent in society experience increased feelings of threat and a tendency to avoid those outside their group. This study, one of the first of its kind, sheds light on the often-overlooked consequences of conspiracy theories on the groups they target. While a significant amount of research has been done on why people believe in conspiracy theories, there has been little focus on how these theories affect the groups they target. Conspiracy theories can be ha......

New research suggests that a psychological concept known as “the need for chaos” plays a bigger role than partisanship and ideology in the sharing of conspiracy theories on the internet. The study, published in Research & Politics, indicates that individuals driven by a desire to disrupt and challenge established systems are more inclined to share conspiracy theories. The study was authored by Christina Farhart (assistant professor, Carleton College), Erin Fitz (PhD candidate, Colorado State University), Joanne Miller (professor, University of Delaware), and Kyle Saunders (professor, Colorado ......

New research published in Frontiers in Psychology has found that individuals harboring a conspiracy mindset tend to demonstrate higher hesitancy towards vaccinating children against COVID-19 and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The study also highlighted these individuals’ frequent reliance on politically conservative media sources, which further affirms their beliefs, contributing to a significant challenge in overcoming vaccine resistance among adults responsible for child vaccinations. The researchers conducted this study to understand the role of a conspiracy mindset in shaping people’s ......

A new online experiment in the United Kingdom found that a brief mindfulness training (lasting 2 weeks, 15 minutes a day) can make individuals less likely to avoid information that may cause worry or regret. In this way, individuals can be trained to reduce one of the most important decision-making biases. The study was published in Economics Letters. Avoiding information about potentially negative outcomes, even when such information is freely available is one of the most well-known biases in individual decision-making. It is also one of the most dangerous issues in decision making. Historica......

A new study has found that both Christian nationalism and biblical literalism are independently associated with a greater tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. When people believed in both Christian nationalism and biblical literalism, their distrust of government officials increased significantly. The findings, published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, provide insight into the sociocultural factors that contribute to the spread and persistence of conspiracy beliefs in certain populations. The researchers were motivated by the growing concern over the harmful effects......

Conspiracy theories have been around for centuries, from witch trials and antisemitic campaigns to beliefs that Freemasons were trying to topple European monarchies. In the mid-20th century, historian Richard Hofstadter described a “paranoid style” that he observed in right-wing U.S. politics and culture: a blend of “heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy.” But the “golden age” of conspiracy theories, it seems, is now. On June 24, 2022, the unknown leader of the QAnon conspiracy theory posted online for the first time in over a year. QAnon’s enthusiasts tend to be arde......