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Belief in Conspiracy Theories: Basic Principles of an Emerging Research Domain

van Prooijen, Jan-Willem, Douglas, Karen (2018) Belief in Conspiracy Theories: Basic Principles of an Emerging Research Domain. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48 (2). pp. 897-908. ISSN 0046-2772. (doi:10.1002/ejsp.2530) (KAR id:68554)

Abstract

In this introduction to the EJSP Special Issue on conspiracy theories as a social psychological phenomenon, we describe how this emerging research domain has developed over the past decade and distill four basic principles that characterize belief in conspiracy theories. Specifically, conspiracy theories are consequential as they have a real impact on people's health, relationships, and safety; they are universal in that belief in them is widespread across times, cultures, and social settings; they are emotional given that negative emotions and not rational deliberations cause conspiracy beliefs; and they are social as conspiracy beliefs are closely associated with psychological motivations underlying intergroup conflict. We then discuss future research and possible policy interventions in this growing area of enquiry.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/ejsp.2530
Uncontrolled keywords: Conspiracy theories; Consequences; Universal; Emotions; Intergroup conflict
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Karen Douglas
Date Deposited: 14 Aug 2018 09:45 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 16:10 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/68554 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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