Conspiracist and paranormal beliefs: A typology of non-reductive ideation

Non-reductive ideation is characterized by a tendency to attribute causality to non-physical powers and mysterious forms of intelligent agency such as conspiracist ideation, belief in specific conspiracy theories, and belief in the paranormal. Scholars have identified numerous individual correlates...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nathan F. Dieckmann, Robert O. Hartman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Groningen Press 2022-09-01
Series:International Journal of Personality Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijpp.rug.nl/article/view/38006
Description
Summary:Non-reductive ideation is characterized by a tendency to attribute causality to non-physical powers and mysterious forms of intelligent agency such as conspiracist ideation, belief in specific conspiracy theories, and belief in the paranormal. Scholars have identified numerous individual correlates of non-reductive ideation but do not examine shared patterns across multiple predictors to determine subtypes of individuals with different psychological profiles. We address this gap by considering a large set of predictors in a diverse cross-section of the US public (N=792) to uncover latent subtypes of individuals with varying tendencies toward non-reductive ideation. Schizotypal and neurotic tendencies were the strongest predictors of non-reductive ideation, while sociopolitical identity (e.g., political ideology) contributed little explanatory power. We find five distinct latent classes distinguished by: schizotypal and paranoid ideation, alienated skepticism toward people/society, and a negative sense of self. We discuss these results in light of previous findings and suggest directions for future research.
ISSN:2451-9243