In this research project, Professor Karen Douglas and colleagues examine how belief in conspiracies affects inter-group (between different social groups) prejudice. The researchers go one step further to also investigate if conspiracy beliefs result in generalised prejudice - that is, whether conspiracy belief about one group may also affect the way people respond towards other groups (uninvolved in the conspiracy).
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About
Psychological research has looked at the reasons that people believe in conspiracy theories. This line of research indicates a variety of potential predictors including individual characteristics, needs for security and control, need for order and structure and others.
However, little research (relatively) has explored the consequences of conspiracy belief. Some findings show that conspiracy theories may have serious socio-political outcomes including prejudice against other groups and health-related outcomes. For instance, Golec de Zavala & Cichocka (2012) showed that conspiracy beliefs about Jewish domination was associated with anti-Semitic attitudes. Also, other research has shown that beliefs that Jewish people have ill intentions (conspiracy stereotypes) resulted in prejudice and discrimination against Jewish people.
These findings are important because they highlight that conspiracy beliefs may result in prejudice and discrimination towards others and so, prevent societies from becoming cohesive.
In this research project, Douglas and colleagues examined how belief in conspiracies affects inter-group (between different social groups) prejudice. In fact, the researchers go one step further to also investigate if conspiracy beliefs result in generalised prejudice-that is, whether conspiracy belief about one group may also affect the way people respond towards other groups (uninvolved in the conspiracy).
Method
Study 1: Conspiracy beliefs about Muslim immigration and the ‘Islamisation’ of Europe
• 180 UK residents completed an online questionnaire
• First participants either read a passage that
• 1) supported ideas about immigrants’ involvement in terrorist organisations (e.g., ISIS) and their plots to attack Britain from within (pro-conspiracy)
• OR 2) information that refuted the above (anti-conspiracy)
Participants then indicated their:
• 1) belief in conspiracy theories
• 2) prejudice towards immigrants (questionnaires)
Study 2: Conspiracy beliefs about Jewish people
• 189 UK residents completed an online questionnaire
• As in Study 1, participants either read a passage that supported conspiracy beliefs about Jewish people or that refuted it
• Then participants indicated:
• 1) Belief in conspiracy theories about Jewish people
• 2) Prejudice towards Jewish people (several measures: for more info see…
Study 3: Generalisation of prejudice because of conspiracy belief
• 114 UK residents completed online questionnaires
• First participants either read a passage:
- 1) that supported conspiracy theory about Jewish people
- OR 2) were given no information about conspiracies
• Participants then indicated:
• belief in Jewish conspiracy
• Prejudice towards Jewish people
• Prejudice towards other groups (Americans, Irish, feminists, poor people etc)
Key findings
• Participants who read passages that were pro-conspiracy, showed increased prejudice
• That was true for the Muslim conspiracy theory (study 1), and the Jewish conspiracy theory (study 2)
• Participants who read passages that were pro-conspiracy showed biased behaviour towards the target group
• Participants who read passages that were pro-conspiracy showed generalised prejudice
That is, participants who read Jewish conspiracy theories, showed prejudice not only towards Jewish people but also towards other groups
Impact
• The findings offer new and important insight in understanding the role of conspiracy belief in prejudice
• The findings have important implications for policy-makers and media (which can strengthen exposure to conspiracy belief)
• The findings have important implications for policy-makers and educators:
• The findings showed practical consequences of conspiracy belief – people are likely to show biased behaviour towards groups other than their own
• Interventions could be established to ensure that the negative consequences of conspiracy beliefs are not perpetuated