Researchers identify two psychological traits that predict conspiracy theory belief
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New research published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology identifies specific psychological traits associated with a tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. The findings suggest that individuals who perceive the world as fundamentally unjust and those who struggle with uncertain or ambiguous situations are more likely to endorse conspiratorial narratives.
Psychological research into conspiracy theories has expanded significantly in recent years. While many studies focus on specific beliefs, such as those regarding climate change or public health events, fewer have examined the broader mindset that makes someone prone to these ideas.
The authors of the new study aimed to explore the “cover-up” aspect of conspiracy thinking. This perspective involves the belief that powerful organizations conceal the truth and that skeptics are the ones who are misguided.
“I have long been interested in conspiracy theories, having published around 20 papers on the topic over the past decade or so. Few, if any, researchers have taken into account the ‘cover up’ perspective of conspiracy believers,” study author Adrian Furnham, a professor at the Norwegian Business School. “I have also long been interested in both beliefs about justice (Just World Theory) and more recently Tolerance of Ambiguity, which I believe is neglected in the Big Five framework. Both seemed obviously associated with conspiracy theories.”
The concept of “Tolerance of Ambiguity” describes how a person reacts to vague, inconsistent, or unclear information. The researchers wanted to test if the discomfort caused by ambiguity drives people toward the clear explanations offered by conspiracy theories. They also investigated how beliefs about justice in the world interact with these personality traits.
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