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Multinational data show that conspiracy beliefs are associated with the perception (and reality) of poor national economic performance
Author(s) -
Hornsey Matthew J.,
Pearson Samuel,
Kang Jemima,
Sassenberg Kai,
Jetten Jolanda,
Van Lange Paul A. M.,
Medina Lucia G.,
Amiot Catherine E.,
Ausmees Liisi,
Baguma Peter,
Barry Oumar,
Becker Maja,
Bilewicz Michal,
Castelain Thomas,
Costantini Giulio,
Dimdins Girts,
Espinosa Agustín,
Finchilescu Gillian,
Friese Malte,
González Roberto,
Goto Nobuhiko,
Gómez Ángel,
Halama Peter,
Ilustrisimo Ruby,
JigaBoy Gabriela M.,
Karl Johannes,
Kuppens Peter,
Loughnan Steve,
Markovikj Marijana,
Mastor Khairul A.,
McLatchie Neil,
Novak Lindsay M.,
Onyekachi Blessing N.,
Peker Müjde,
Rizwan Muhammad,
Schaller Mark,
Suh Eunkook M.,
Talaifar Sanaz,
Tong Eddie M. W.,
Torres Ana,
Turner Rhian N.,
Vauclair ChristinMelanie,
Vinogradov Alexander,
Wang Zhechen,
Yeung Victoria Wai Lan,
Bastian Brock
Publication year - 2023
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.2888
Subject(s) - distrust , psychology , perception , social psychology , multinational corporation , vitality , per capita , positive economics , economics , political science , sociology , law , demography , population , philosophy , theology , neuroscience , psychotherapist
Abstract While a great deal is known about the individual difference factors associated with conspiracy beliefs, much less is known about the country‐level factors that shape people's willingness to believe conspiracy theories. In the current article we discuss the possibility that willingness to believe conspiracy theories might be shaped by the perception (and reality) of poor economic performance at the national level. To test this notion, we surveyed 6723 participants from 36 countries. In line with predictions, propensity to believe conspiracy theories was negatively associated with perceptions of current and future national economic vitality. Furthermore, countries with higher GDP per capita tended to have lower belief in conspiracy theories. The data suggest that conspiracy beliefs are not just caused by intrapsychic factors but are also shaped by difficult economic circumstances for which distrust might have a rational basis.