Conspiracy Beliefs and Violent Extremist Intentions: The Contingent Effects of Self-efficacy, Self-control and Law-related Morality

Abstract

This study analyses the effects of conspiracy beliefs on violent extremist intentions. More specifically, we investigate whether the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and violent extremism depends upon individual characteristics such as varying levels of self-efficacy, selfcontrol, and law-relevant morality. Variable interactions examine where conspiracy beliefs the results demonstrate the need to further elaborate the conditional effects of certain risk as well as protective factors for violent extremism.

Injustice Without Evidence: The Unique Role of Conspiracy Theories in Social Justice Research

“…Moreover, both perceived procedural injustice, and strong moral convictions, are associated with radicalization and disregard for the rule of law (Van den Bos, 2018 ; Skitka, 2010 ). Similar responses have been observed among people who believe conspiracy theories: Conspiracy beliefs predict distrust (Abalakina-Paap et al, 1999 ; Pummerer et al, 2021 ), collective action (particularly non-normative forms of collective action, such as vandalizing, attacking police officers, harassing people online, and so on; see Imhoff et al, 2021 ; Rottweiler & Gill, 2020 ), a willingness to commit minor forms of crime (Jolley et al, 2019 ), extremism, populism, and radicalization (Bartlett & Miller, 2010 ; Krouwel et al, 2017 ; Silva et al, 2017 ; Van Prooijen et al, 2015 ), and a range of human emotions (for overviews, see Douglas et al, 2019 ; Van Prooijen & Douglas, 2018 ). Such convergence supports one of the basic premises of this contribution, namely that conspiracy theories necessarily include judgments of injustice.…”

Are Conspiracy Theories Harmless?

“…Conspiracy theories may therefore be a "radicalizing multiplier" (p. 4) that serves to reinforce ideologies and psychological processes within extremist groups. Recently, Rottweiler and Gill (2020) found a link between conspiracy beliefs and violent extremist intentions. Specifically, these relationships were stronger for individuals who have low self-control, have weaker morality when it comes to the law, but score higher in self-efficacy.…”

The Who and Why of QAnon’s Rapid Rise

“…70 Furthermore, QAnons with strong beliefs report increased anxiety, stress over threat perceptions, prejudice against both powerful and socially marginalized outgroups, and social disengagement. 71 As of June 2021, QAnon persists, but anew. It has shifted to promote a racist pandemic denialism theory: Covid-19 is a fictive Jewish-backed ploy for the Chinese communist overthrow of Western governments.…”