Conspiracy Theories

A study surveyed 498 Australians/New Zealanders on conspiracy theories, finding stable beliefs over time despite COVID-19. Some shifted views, but overall, belief levels remained consistent, challenging the notion of a deepening "rabbit hole" of conspiracy adherence.

Recent research found that exposure to real or fake scandals doesn't significantly change beliefs in conspiracy theories. This challenges the idea that knowing about actual scandals helps discern truth from fiction in conspiracy theories.

A study in the Journal of Creative Behavior finds that conspiracy theories show creativity in forming unique, complex linguistic compounds, but lack flexibility and diversity in their usage.

In a landmark study, researchers have mapped the psychological landscape that shapes our susceptibility to conspiracy theories.

New research in PLOS One reveals that support for former President Trump significantly predicts public rejection of scientific consensus on climate change and COVID-19 vaccination. Trumpism's influence transcends other demographics, intensifying science skepticism in the United States.

New research reveals an intriguing twist: individuals prone to conspiracy theories and those who frequently use social media are better at spotting deepfake videos.

Two French surveys link strong conspiracy beliefs to lower use of conventional medicine and higher preference for alternative treatments, particularly in the context of chemotherapy.

Research shows that belief in prevalent conspiracy theories about a targeted group leads to increased feelings of threat and avoidance behavior within that group.

A study published in Political Research Quarterly provides evidence that former President Trump's baseless claims of 2020 election fraud significantly eroded confidence in U.S. elections among Republican voters, overshadowing objective measures of election administration.

Research shows that morbid curiosity, which draws people to scary movies and violent media, also links to an interest in conspiracy theories. This allure to threats, both real and imagined, can intensify beliefs that the world is perilous, potentially increasing...

Individuals who believe in conspiracies tend to oppose democracy and favor autocracy, as shown by studies conducted in Greece and the U.S. This inclination is often linked to feelings of political powerlessness and is amplified in environments of distrust, such...

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...

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...

A new study provides evidence that a reduced sense of control tends to increase support for leaders who use conspiratorial rhetoric, while an increased sense of control tends to reduce support for such leaders. The research also highlights the role...

People who experience anger more frequently are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, regardless of the content, according to a study published in the Journal of Research in Personality. The research suggests that anger plays a role in susceptibility...