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Emotion dysregulation and belief in conspiracy theories

Molenda, Zuzanna, Green, Ricky, Marchlewska, Marta, Cichocka, Aleksandra, Douglas, Karen (2023) Emotion dysregulation and belief in conspiracy theories. Personality and Individual Differences, 204 . Article Number 112042. ISSN 0191-8869. (doi:10.1016/j.paid.2022.112042) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:99019)

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Abstract

Conspiracy beliefs typically flourish in threatening situations that evoke negative emotions. In the present research, we hypothesized that conspiracy beliefs may therefore serve as a psychological response to difficulties in the domain of emotion regulation (i.e., dysregulation of emotional experiences, expressions, and responses). This hypothesis was tested among British, American, and Polish participants and conceptually replicated across three studies. Specifically, we examined the associations between difficulties in emotion regulation and belief in general notions of conspiracy (Study 1, n = 391 and Study 2, n = 411) and belief in specific conspiracy theories in (Study 3, n = 558). Across all three studies, difficulties in emotion regulation positively predicted belief in conspiracy theories. These findings suggest that people having more problems with regulating their emotions may be most prone to believing in conspiracy theories.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.112042
Uncontrolled keywords: Difficulties in emotion regulation; Negative emotions; Conspiracy 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: 08 Dec 2022 16:51 UTC
Last Modified: 07 Mar 2023 16:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/99019 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Green, Ricky.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Cichocka, Aleksandra.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-1586
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Douglas, Karen.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0381-6924
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