van Prooijen, Jan-Willem, Douglas, Karen, De Inocencio, Clara (2017) Connecting the Dots: Illusory Pattern Perception Predicts Belief in Conspiracies and the Supernatural. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48 (3). pp. 320-335. ISSN 0046-2772. E-ISSN 1099-0992. (doi:10.1002/ejsp.2331) (KAR id:63244)
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Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2331 |
Abstract
A common assumption is that belief in conspiracy theories and supernatural phenomena are grounded in illusory pattern perception. In the present research we systematically tested this assumption. Study 1 revealed that such irrational beliefs are related to perceiving patterns in randomly generated coin toss outcomes. In Study 2, pattern search instructions exerted an indirect effect on irrational beliefs through pattern perception. Study 3 revealed that perceiving patterns in chaotic but not in structured paintings predicted irrational beliefs. In Study 4, we found that agreement with texts supporting paranormal phenomena or conspiracy theories predicted pattern perception. In Study 5, we manipulated belief in a specific conspiracy theory. This manipulation influenced the extent to which people perceive patterns in world events, which in turn predicted unrelated irrational beliefs. We conclude that illusory pattern perception is a central cognitive mechanism accounting for conspiracy theories and supernatural beliefs.
Item Type: | Article |
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DOI/Identification number: | 10.1002/ejsp.2331 |
Uncontrolled keywords: | Illusory pattern perception; conspiracy beliefs; supernatural beliefs; irrational beliefs |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
Divisions: | Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology |
Depositing User: | Karen Douglas |
Date Deposited: | 06 Sep 2017 11:32 UTC |
Last Modified: | 16 Feb 2021 13:48 UTC |
Resource URI: | https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/63244 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes) |
Douglas, Karen: | ![]() |
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