Journal article 599 views 83 downloads
Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia
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Alice Liefgreen,
V. Bell,
N. Raihani
Royal Society Open Science, Volume: 9, Issue: 1
Swansea University Author: Alice Liefgreen
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DOI (Published version): 10.1098/rsos.211555
Abstract
Paranoia and conspiracy thinking are known to be distinct but correlated constructs, but it is unknown whether certain types of conspiracy thinking are more common in paranoia than others. In a large (n = 1000), pre-registered online study we tested if endorsement of items on a new Components of Con...
| Published in: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| ISSN: | 2054-5703 |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
2022
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60566 |
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| Abstract: |
Paranoia and conspiracy thinking are known to be distinct but correlated constructs, but it is unknown whether certain types of conspiracy thinking are more common in paranoia than others. In a large (n = 1000), pre-registered online study we tested if endorsement of items on a new Components of Conspiracy Ideation Questionnaire varied according to whether harm was described as being (a) intentional and (b) self-referential. Our predictions were supported: paranoia was positively associated with endorsement of items on this questionnaire overall and more paranoid individuals were more likely to endorse items describing intentional and self-referential harm. Belief in any item on the Components of Conspiracy Ideation Questionnaire was associated with belief in others and items describing incidental harm and harm to others were found to be more believable overall. Individuals who endorsed conspiracy theory items on the questionnaire were more likely to state that people similar to them would as well, although this effect was not reduced in paranoia, counter to our expectations. |
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| Keywords: |
conspiracy thinking, paranoia, belief |
| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Funders: |
A.G.G. is supported by the Royal Society. N.R. is supported by a Royal Society University Research Fellowshipand the Leverhulme Trust. |
| Issue: |
1 |