The sociodemographic correlates of conspiracism.

Autor: Enders A; Department of Political Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA., Klofstad C; Department of Political Science, University of Miami, 1300 Campo Sano Blvd., Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA., Diekman A; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, 47405, USA., Drochon H; School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK., Rogers de Waal J; YouGov United Kingdom, Cambridge, EC1Y 8RT, UK., Littrell S; Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3K9, Canada., Premaratne K; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, 33146, USA., Verdear D; Department of Computer Science, University of Miami, Miami, 33146, USA., Wuchty S; Department of Computer Science, University of Miami, Miami, 33146, USA., Uscinski J; Department of Political Science, University of Miami, 1300 Campo Sano Blvd., Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA. uscinski@miami.edu.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Jun 20; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 14184. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 20.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64098-1
Abstrakt: Despite hundreds of studies examining belief in conspiracy theories, it is still unclear who-demographically-is most likely to believe such theories. To remedy this knowledge gap, we examine survey data containing various operationalizations of conspiracism across diverse sociopolitical contexts. Study 1 employs a 2021 U.S. survey (n = 2021) to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and beliefs in 39 conspiracy theories. Study 2 similarly employs a survey of 20 countries (n = 26,416) and 11 conspiracy theory beliefs. Study 3 reports results from a 2020 U.S. survey (n = 2015) measuring perceptions about which groups are engaging in conspiracies. Study 4 interrogates data from nine U.S. surveys (2012-2022; n = 14,334) to examine the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and generalized conspiracy thinking. Study 5 synchronizes studies 1-4 to provide an intersectional analysis of conspiracy theory belief. Across studies, we observe remarkably consistent patterns: education, income, age (older), and White identification are negatively related to conspiracism, while Black identification is positively related. We conclude by discussing why conspiracy theories may appeal most to historically marginalized groups and how our findings can inform efforts to mitigate the negative effects of conspiracy theories.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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