Conspiracy Beliefs As Coping Behavior: Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs

Helen M. Hendy; Pamela Black

doi:10.5771/9781666904048

Summary

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.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2022
Copyright year: 2022
ISBN-Print: 978-1-6669-0403-1
ISBN-Online: 978-1-6669-0404-8
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 180
Product type: Book Titles

1. Contents No access
2. List of Tables and Figures No access
3. Acknowledgments No access
Introduction No access Pages 1 - 4
1. Theoretical Perspectives on Conspiracy Beliefs No access
2. Past Research on WHO? and Psychologically WHY? People Adopt Conspiracy Beliefs No access
1. Conspiracy Theories in a Historical Context No access
2. Contemporary Conspiracy Theories No access
3. The Present Study No access
1. Study Participants No access
2. Survey Procedures No access
3. Measurement of Study Variables No access
1. Demographics and Life Stressors No access
2. Demographics and PTSD (Powerlessness) No access
3. Demographics and Extreme Beliefs No access
4. Life Stressors and PTSD (Powerlessness) No access
5. Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs No access
6. Five Conspiracy Beliefs and Violent Ideation No access
7. Does PTSD Mediate between Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs? No access
8. Do Demographics Moderate the Three-Variable Mediations? No access
1. Summary of Study Results No access
2. Interpretation and Application of Study Results No access
3. Study Limitations and Directions for Future Research No access
Bibliography No access Pages 147 - 174
Index No access Pages 175 - 178
About the Authors No access Pages 179 - 180