The second edition of this popular text, updated throughout and now including Covid-19 and the 2020 presidential election and aftermath, introduces students to the research into conspiracy theories and the people who propagate and believe them. In doing so, Uscinski and Enders address the psychological, sociological, and political sources of conspiracy theorizing. They rigorously analyze the most current arguments and evidence while providing numerous real-world examples so students can contextualize the current debates. Each chapter addresses important current questions, provides conceptual tools, defines important terms, and introduces the appropriate methods of analysis.
Joseph E. Uscinski is associate professor of political science at University of Miami. He is editor of Conspiracy Theories and the People Who Believe Them (forthcoming), coauthor of American Conspiracy Theories (2014) and author of The People's News: Media, Politics, and the Demands of Capitalism (2014). Adam Enders is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville. His research focuses on the role of suspicion and conspiratorial thinking in American mass politics, the influence of core values on political identities and attitudes, and the evolving nature of mass polarization.
Chapter 1 Why Study Conspiracy Theories? Why Are Conspiracy Theories Important? Kennedy Assassination and Other Conspiracy Theories Why Are Conspiracy Theories Important? The Popular Misconceptions Conspiracy theories are more popular now Conspiracy Theories are Extreme Conspiracy Theories are for the Mentally Ill Conservatives Believe More Conspiracy Theories than Liberals Conspiracy Theories are More Popular in the US (or in some other place) Plan of the Book Chapter 2 What is a Conspiracy Theory? Defining Our Terms Conspiracy Conspiracy Theory Falsifiability Other Standards for Evaluating Conspiracy Theories The Diversity of Conspiracy Theories The Conspirators The Number of Conspirators When Do People Conspire? The Methods The Goals Conspiracy Theory Beliefs Conspiracy Thinking Conspiracy Theorist The Post-Truth World? Anomalous Beliefs Conclusion Chapter 3 The Popularity of Conspiracy and Anomalous Beliefs Measurement Conspiracy Theories and Poll Numbers Immigration Conspiracy Theories Government Malfeasance Extraterrestrial Cover-up Malevolent Global Conspiracies Personal Well-being Control of Information Anomalistic Beliefs Conclusion Chapter 4 The Psychology and Sociology of Conspiracy Theories Psychological Factors Cognitive Traits Personality Traits Psychological Conditions Criticisms of the Psychological Approach Sociological Factors Conclusion Chapter 5 The Politics of Conspiracy Theories Power and Conspiracy Theories The Locus of Power Partisan Conspiracy Theorizing Opinion Formation The Hypodermic Needle Theory The Minimal Effects Model Partisanship and Conspiracy Theory Beliefs Symmetry The Interaction between Partisanship and Conspiracy Thinking Conspiracy Theories Are for Losers Conclusion Chapter 6 Donald Trump and the Elections of 2016 and 2020 Donald Trump Runs for President Anti-Establishment Orientations Trump-Russia Conspiracy Theories Consequences of Conspiracy Theory Politics Conclusion Chapter 7 QAnon, COVID-19, Social Media, and The Era of "Post-truth"QAnon COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Other Conspiracy Theory Beliefs Over Time Online Exposure to Conspiracy Theories Does Online Exposure Spread Conspiracy Theories? The Effect of Conspiracy Theory Beliefs on Deleterious Actions A New Satanic Panic Curtailing the Spread and Effects of Conspiracy Theories Conclusions Appendix
