Conspiracy Beliefs as Coping Behavior

Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs

Häftad, Engelska, 2024

Av Helen M. Hendy, Pamela Black

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This book provides new answers to who and psychologically why individuals sometimes adopt conspiracy beliefs and thoughts of violence. Five conspiracy beliefs are considered: Government Malfeasance, Malevolent World Power, Extra-terrestrial Cover-up, Personal Well-being Threat, and Control of Information. Using a survey of 977 US citizens, the book compares thirteen possible demographic characteristics (who?) to see which ones are most associated with extreme beliefs. The book then evaluates a three-step psychological sequence (why?) in which individuals experiencing intense life stressors (health, money, or loneliness), combined with powerlessness (displayed as PTSD symptoms), have increased risk for extreme beliefs, perhaps because they offer a sense of understanding, strength, and community.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2024-03-20
Mått152 x 228 x 11 mm
Vikt268 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor190
FörlagBloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN9781666904055

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ContentsList of Tables and FiguresAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart 1. FoundationsChapter 1. Theoretical Perspectives on Conspiracy Theory IdeationChapter 2. Past Research on WHO? and WHY? People Adopt Conspiracy BeliefsPart 2. Conspiracy Theories Past and PresentChapter 3. Conspiracy Theories in an Historical ContextChapter 4. Contemporary Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 5. The Present StudyPart 3. Research MethodologyChapter 6. Study ParticipantsChapter 7. Survey ProceduresChapter 8. Measurement of Study VariablesPart 4. Data Analysis and ResultsChapter 9. Demographics and Three Life StressorsChapter 10. Demographics and PTSD (Powerlessness)Chapter 11. Demographics and Extreme BeliefsChapter 12. Life Stressors and PTSD (Powerlessness)Chapter 13. Life Stressors and Extreme BeliefsChapter 14. Five Conspiracy Beliefs and Violent IdeationChapter 15. Does PTSD Mediate between Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs?Chapter 16. Do Demographics Moderate the Three-Variable Mediations?Part 5. Summary and ConclusionsChapter 17. Summary of Study ResultsChapter 18. Interpretation and Application of Study ResultsChapter 19. Study Limitations and Directions for Future ResearchReferencesAbout the Authors

"Since the January 6, 2021 storming of the US capital by insurrectionists who believed the rigged-election conspiracy theory, it has become evident that conspiracism has risen from the margins of culture to the highest levels of society. Understanding why people believe conspiracy theories is now one of the most important problems to solve in social science, and in their new book, Helen M. Hendy and Pamela Black offer new research to explain who tends to adopt extreme beliefs and the psychological reasons why they do so. This important work is a must read for anyone interested in this existential threat to our democracy."