Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211555 |
| _version_ | 1827957941162999808 |
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| author | A. G. Greenburgh A. Liefgreen V. Bell N. Raihani |
| author_facet | A. G. Greenburgh A. Liefgreen V. Bell N. Raihani |
| author_sort | A. G. Greenburgh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:27:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51832548d48540228bce86e3eb81f6d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:27:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-51832548d48540228bce86e3eb81f6d02023-04-28T11:04:05ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032022-01-019110.1098/rsos.211555Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoiaA. G. Greenburgh0A. Liefgreen1V. Bell2N. Raihani3Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UKPsychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UKResearch Department of Clinical, Educational, and Healthy Psychology, University College London, London, UKPsychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UKParanoia 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.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211555conspiracy thinkingparanoiabelief |
| spellingShingle | A. G. Greenburgh A. Liefgreen V. Bell N. Raihani Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia Royal Society Open Science conspiracy thinking paranoia belief |
| title | Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia |
| title_full | Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia |
| title_fullStr | Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia |
| title_short | Factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia |
| title_sort | factors affecting conspiracy theory endorsement in paranoia |
| topic | conspiracy thinking paranoia belief |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211555 |
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