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.
Helen M. Hendy is professor emeritus of psychology at Penn State Schuylkill. Pamela Black is professor of criminal justice at Penn State Hazelton and the Discipline Coordinator for Social Sciences and Education in the University College.
Contents List of Tables and Figures Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1. Foundations Chapter 1. Theoretical Perspectives on Conspiracy Theory Ideation Chapter 2. Past Research on WHO? and WHY? People Adopt Conspiracy Beliefs Part 2. Conspiracy Theories Past and Present Chapter 3. Conspiracy Theories in an Historical Context Chapter 4. Contemporary Conspiracy Theories Chapter 5. The Present Study Part 3. Research Methodology Chapter 6. Study Participants Chapter 7. Survey Procedures Chapter 8. Measurement of Study Variables Part 4. Data Analysis and Results Chapter 9. Demographics and Three Life Stressors Chapter 10. Demographics and PTSD (Powerlessness) Chapter 11. Demographics and Extreme Beliefs Chapter 12. Life Stressors and PTSD (Powerlessness) Chapter 13. Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs Chapter 14. Five Conspiracy Beliefs and Violent Ideation Chapter 15. Does PTSD Mediate between Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs? Chapter 16. Do Demographics Moderate the Three-Variable Mediations? Part 5. Summary and Conclusions Chapter 17. Summary of Study Results Chapter 18. Interpretation and Application of Study Results Chapter 19. Study Limitations and Directions for Future Research References About 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." -- Michael Shermer, author of Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational
