The journal Frontiers in Psychology has recently published a study showing a significant link between religiosity and the belief in COVID-19 conspiracy narratives — mediated by a conspiracy mentality.
The context of the present study lies in the surge of conspiracy theories during crises — with COVID-19 providing a strong foundation for such beliefs. Prior research has covered the human tendency to cling to conspiracy narratives, suggesting a deep-rooted inclination to find patterns and intentions in world events — and attributing them to the actions of malevolent groups.
This present research extends this understanding by exploring how religiosity — characterized by a belief in a higher power without empirical proof, correlates with the endorsement of conspiracy narratives through a shared framework of unwavering conviction.
The researchers embarked on this study to explore the potential parallels between religious conviction and the acceptance of conspiracy theories == hypothesizing that a belief system rooted in faith without evidence could predispose individuals to a conspiracy mentality. This assumption led to the investigation of whether religiosity could indirectly influence the belief in COVID19 conspiracy narratives through the mediation of a conspiracy mentality.
To test their hypothesis, researchers conducted an online survey with 616 participants, around half female and half male and all recruited through social media or advertisements. The survey analyzed their levels of religiosity, conspiracy mentality, and belief in specific COVID-19 conspiracy narratives. The study’s methodology utilized a detailed questionnaire to gauge participants’ religious beliefs and their inclination towards conspiratorial thinking —specifically in the context of the pandemic.
Findings revealed that individuals with higher levels of religiosity were more likely to exhibit a conspiracy mentality — which in turn, was significantly associated with the endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy narratives. In other words, it can be suggested that religious beliefs, particularly those developed from an early age, may not only push these individuals towards conspiracy mentality — but also towards the acceptance of specific conspiracy narratives, even when such beliefs are not directly related to their religious views.
However, the study has its own distinctions and caveats. Despite the conceptual overlap, religiosity and conspiracy mentality are two distinct and different constructs — and correlation does not mean causation, as they may influence individuals in very different ways. The study’s focus on the Christian religion may also limit the generalizability of the findings to other religious contexts, and the researchers also point out that education plays a crucial role — with higher education levels associated with a less pronounced conspiracy mentality.
The study, “Conviction in the absence of proof: Conspiracy mentality mediates religiosityʼs relationship with support for COVID-19 conspiracy narratives,ˮ was authored by Hilmar Grabow and Anne Rock at Kiel University’s Social and Political Psychology department.