The Psychological and Political Correlates of Conspiracy Beliefs

Conspiracy beliefs are more common than expected, with half of Americans subscribing to at least one, and their popularity varies depending on political and psychological traits.

A study by Joe Uscinski explored this variance, correlating belief in 39 different conspiracy theories with 15 psychological and political characteristics (Manicheanism, Machiavellianism etc.).

The study found that while conspiratorial thinking was the biggest predictor of individual conspiracy beliefs, psychological traits, such as the dark triad, and political ideologies, such as Manicheanism and populism, were the strongest predictors of a broad range of conspiracy beliefs.

Recognizing these correlations allows for more nuanced approaches in combating misinformation and reaching individuals who previously seemed unreachable.