Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Conspiracy Theories

Narcissists’ proneness to conspiracy belief is partly driven by a desire to be unique and heightened paranoia

by Beth Ellwood
December 1, 2021
in Conspiracy Theories, Social Psychology

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality sheds new light on the psychological features that tie narcissism to conspiracy thinking. The findings suggest that while people who are high in grandiose narcissism are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories because of a desire to be unique, those high in vulnerable narcissism are more likely to believe in conspiracies due to heightened paranoia.

Conspiracy theories are alternative explanations for events that often involve a malicious cover-up by a powerful organization. An example is the theory that COVID-19 vaccines contain microchip tracking devices. In light of the harm that can be caused by conspiracy beliefs, such as vaccine hesitancy during a global pandemic, scholars have invested in studying personality factors that might predict conspiracy thinking.

Researcher Cameron S. Kay wanted to add to this field of research by differentiating between two dimensions of narcissism, which he proposed might be tied to conspiracy belief through distinct personality features. While grandiose narcissism is characterized by an inflated ego and a feeling of superiority over others, vulnerable narcissism is characterized by heightened arrogance, self-consciousness, and shame.

A total of 397 undergraduate students completed questionnaires assessing grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, and conspiracist ideation. The survey also assessed four personality factors that Kay proposed might play a role in the link between narcissism and conspiracy belief — delusional ideation, paranoia, the desire to be unique, and the desire for control. Additionally, 234 participants had one or more close friends or family members complete a similar survey assessing the participants’ personalities.

The analysis revealed that students with higher self-reported grandiose or vulnerable narcissism scored higher in conspiracist ideation. Similarly, students who were rated by their loved ones as higher in grandiose or vulnerable narcissism were also rated as higher in conspiracist ideation. This finding is important because it suggests that people who are perceived as narcissistic are more likely to be perceived as believing in conspiracy theories — a way of thinking that is highly stigmatized.

Mediation analysis revealed that delusional ideation — the tendency toward unusual beliefs — partly explained the link between conspiracist ideation and both forms of narcissism. This was even after accounting for all other mediators of interest. This finding suggests that people who are high in narcissism are drawn to conspiracies partly due to a predisposition toward odd beliefs.

Next, paranoia partly explained the link between conspiracy belief and vulnerable narcissism, but not grandiose narcissism. “One possibility is that paranoia captures a specific type of delusion that is held predominantly by vulnerable narcissists. For example, people scoring high in vulnerable narcissism may be more likely to believe in conspiracy theories because they suffer from delusions of persecution and, as a result, are more likely to believe that there is a confederacy of malefactors plotting their downfall,” Kay says.

Next, a need for uniqueness partly explained the link between conspiracist ideation and grandiose, but not vulnerable, narcissism. However, after controlling for other mediators, this effect was no longer significant.

The study author says that the findings suggest that the two dimensions of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are tied to conspiracy belief to some extent due to shared features, such as delusional ideation. However, there are likely distinct aspects of the two dimensions that uniquely tie them to conspiracy belief.

Kay notes that his study cannot inform causality between variables, and he suspects that the links between the personality features and conspiracy belief could be bidirectional. Future studies will be needed to explore causality and to investigate additional personality features that might play a role in the relationship between narcissism and conspiracy thinking.

The study, “The targets of all treachery: Delusional ideation, paranoia, and the need for uniqueness as mediators between two forms of narcissism and conspiracy beliefs”, was authored by Cameron S. Kay.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin4Send

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

People are less satisfied with their marriage when their partner is not interested in social interactions, study finds

Individuals with secure emotional attachment are more likely to forgive and to be forgiven, study finds

Facing stigmatization due to depression can lower pain tolerance and increase catastrophizing

Anxiety knowledge is lower in those who seek information on social media more often, study finds

Owners of sex dolls are less prone to sexual aggression, but also have lower sexual self-esteem

Women whose male partners use porn more often tend to be less satisfied with emotional and sexual aspects of their relationship

RECENT

Masks hinder our ability to recognize facial expressions of sadness and fear

New research suggests populism and conspiracy mentality are both rooted in a fundamental disposition of distrust

Facing stigmatization due to depression can lower pain tolerance and increase catastrophizing

Individuals with secure emotional attachment are more likely to forgive and to be forgiven, study finds

Memory reactivation during sleep may not always improve memory consolidation

Women whose male partners use porn more often tend to be less satisfied with emotional and sexual aspects of their relationship

New research finds when small talk becomes awkward, we are more likely to blame ourselves

Heightened anxiety makes people more prone to share claims on social media

Currently Playing

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

Dark Triad
Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity

Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity

Cognitive Science
People with social anxiety tend to engage in restrictive “safety behaviors” that make them less likable, study finds

People with social anxiety tend to engage in restrictive “safety behaviors” that make them less likable, study finds

Anxiety
Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness

Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness

Psychopathy
People exposed to phubbing by their romantic partner are less satisfied with their romantic relationship

People exposed to phubbing by their romantic partner are less satisfied with their romantic relationship

Relationships and Sexual Health
Paranormal beliefs are associated with worse sleep, study finds

Paranormal beliefs are associated with worse sleep, study finds

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.