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To what extent are conspiracy theorists concerned for self versus others? A COVID‐19 test case
Author(s) -
Hornsey Matthew J.,
Chapman Cassandra M.,
Alvarez Belen,
Bentley Sarah,
Salvador Casara Bruno Gabriel,
Crimston Charlie R.,
Ionescu Octavia,
Krug Henning,
Preya Selvanathan Hema,
Steffens Niklas K.,
Jetten Jolanda
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2737
Subject(s) - psychology , covid-19 , test (biology) , social psychology , virology , medicine , paleontology , disease , pathology , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
We examined whether people who are prone to believe COVID‐19 conspiracy theories are characterised by an especially strong concern for others or an especially strong concern for the self, and whether these orientations are associated with willingness to take a COVID‐19 vaccine. We surveyed 4,245 participants from eight nations; three months later we re‐contacted 1,262 participants from three nations. Belief in COVID‐19 conspiracy theories was related to greater concerns about one's own safety, and lower concerns about the safety of close others. Furthermore, conspiracist ideation at Wave 1 predicted reluctance to take a COVID‐19 vaccine at Wave 2, mediated through relative concern for self versus others. In sum, people who are high in conspiracy beliefs have relatively higher concern for the self relative to others, with troubling implications for public health.