Citation

Jolley D, Douglas KM, Sutton RM. Polit. Psychol. 2018; 39(2): 465-478.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, International Society of Political Psychology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/pops.12404

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This research demonstrates that conspiracy theories--often represented as subversive alternatives to establishment narratives--may bolster, rather than undermine, support for the social status quo when its legitimacy is under threat. A pilot study (N = 98) found a positive relationship between conspiracy belief and satisfaction with the status quo. In Study 1 (N = 120), threatening (vs. affirming) the status quo in British society caused participants to endorse conspiracy theories. In Study 2 (N = 159), exposure to conspiracy theories increased satisfaction with the British social system after this had been experimentally threatened. In Study 3 (N = 109), this effect was mediated by the tendency for participants exposed (vs. not exposed) to conspiracy theories to attribute societal problems relatively more strongly to small groups of people rather than systemic causes. By blaming tragedies, disasters, and social problems on the actions of a malign few, conspiracy theories can divert attention from the inherent limitations of social systems.

Language: en

Keywords

beliefs; conspiracy theories; system justification; system threat