Examining the Relationship Between Conspiracy Theories, Paranormal Beliefs, and Pseudoscience Acceptance Among a University Population

Abstract

SummaryVery little research has investigated whether believing in paranormal, conspiracy, and pseudoscientific claims are related, even though they share the property of having no epistemic warrant. The present study investigated the association between these categories of epistemically unwarranted beliefs. Results revealed moderate to strong positive correlations between the three categories of epistemically unwarranted beliefs, suggesting that believers in one type tended to also endorse other types. In addition, one individual difference measure, looking at differences in endorsing ontological confusions, was found to be predictive of both paranormal and conspiracy beliefs. Understanding the relationship between peoples' beliefs in these types of claims has theoretical implications for research into why individuals believe empirically unsubstantiated claims. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A validation of the Pseudoscience Endorsement Scale and assessment of the cognitive correlates of pseudoscientific beliefs

“…Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, our data did not show robust differences in the endorsement of pseudoscientific beliefs between men and women. This result contrasts with those observed in some previous studies (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014;Majima, 2015, Huete-Pérez et al, 2022Majima et al, 2022), although other studies have failed to find sex differences (Fasce and Picó, 2019). Our hypotheses regarding the educational level and socioeconomic status were not confirmed either.…”

A validation of the Pseudoscience Endorsement Scale and assessment of the cognitive correlates of pseudoscientific beliefs

“…Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, our data did not show robust differences in the endorsement of pseudoscientific beliefs between men and women. This result contrasts with those observed in some previous studies (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014;Majima, 2015, Huete-Pérez et al, 2022Majima et al, 2022), although other studies have failed to find sex differences (Fasce and Picó, 2019). Our hypotheses regarding the educational level and socioeconomic status were not confirmed either.…”

When we are worried, what are we thinking? Anxiety, lack of control, and conspiracy beliefs amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Concerning gender, females also felt slightly more anxious and lacking control because of the COVID‐19 pandemic and endorsed more generic paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs than men. This latter finding is in line with some past research, which has already shown that women are slightly less likely to reject epistemically suspect beliefs than men (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014). Higher education was consistently negatively related to endorsement of coronavirus‐specific as well as generic epistemically suspect beliefs, which is in line with many previous studies (e.g., Aarnio & Lindeman, 2005; Lindeman, 2011; Ståhl & van Prooijen, 2018; van Prooijen, 2017).…”

“They don't want you to know the truth”: Evaluating predictors of beliefs in conspiracy theories

“…Concerning paranormal beliefs, our predictions were partially corroborated because two of the paranormal beliefs' factors, Mystical Experience and Spirits/Psychic Abilities, were positive predictors of Conspiracy Mentality. These results are in accordance with previous literature, which has shown this positive relationship (Lobato et al, 2014; Rizeq et al, 2021). Due to the same set of cognitive failures that paranormal and conspiracy beliefs share, it seems that such variable presents as a relevant predictor, but it also can be differential depending on the content of the conspiracy beliefs.…”

A validation of the Pseudoscience Endorsement Scale and assessment of the cognitive correlates of pseudoscientific beliefs

“…Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, our data did not show robust differences in the endorsement of pseudoscientific beliefs between men and women. This result contrasts with those observed in some previous studies (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014;Majima, 2015, Huete-Pérez et al, 2022Majima et al, 2022), although other studies have failed to find sex differences (Fasce and Picó, 2019). Our hypotheses regarding the educational level and socioeconomic status were not confirmed either.…”

When we are worried, what are we thinking? Anxiety, lack of control, and conspiracy beliefs amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Concerning gender, females also felt slightly more anxious and lacking control because of the COVID‐19 pandemic and endorsed more generic paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs than men. This latter finding is in line with some past research, which has already shown that women are slightly less likely to reject epistemically suspect beliefs than men (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014). Higher education was consistently negatively related to endorsement of coronavirus‐specific as well as generic epistemically suspect beliefs, which is in line with many previous studies (e.g., Aarnio & Lindeman, 2005; Lindeman, 2011; Ståhl & van Prooijen, 2018; van Prooijen, 2017).…”

“They don't want you to know the truth”: Evaluating predictors of beliefs in conspiracy theories

“…Concerning paranormal beliefs, our predictions were partially corroborated because two of the paranormal beliefs' factors, Mystical Experience and Spirits/Psychic Abilities, were positive predictors of Conspiracy Mentality. These results are in accordance with previous literature, which has shown this positive relationship (Lobato et al, 2014; Rizeq et al, 2021). Due to the same set of cognitive failures that paranormal and conspiracy beliefs share, it seems that such variable presents as a relevant predictor, but it also can be differential depending on the content of the conspiracy beliefs.…”

A validation of the Pseudoscience Endorsement Scale and assessment of the cognitive correlates of pseudoscientific beliefs

“…Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, our data did not show robust differences in the endorsement of pseudoscientific beliefs between men and women. This result contrasts with those observed in some previous studies (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014;Majima, 2015, Huete-Pérez et al, 2022Majima et al, 2022), although other studies have failed to find sex differences (Fasce and Picó, 2019). Our hypotheses regarding the educational level and socioeconomic status were not confirmed either.…”

When we are worried, what are we thinking? Anxiety, lack of control, and conspiracy beliefs amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Concerning gender, females also felt slightly more anxious and lacking control because of the COVID‐19 pandemic and endorsed more generic paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs than men. This latter finding is in line with some past research, which has already shown that women are slightly less likely to reject epistemically suspect beliefs than men (e.g., Lobato et al, 2014). Higher education was consistently negatively related to endorsement of coronavirus‐specific as well as generic epistemically suspect beliefs, which is in line with many previous studies (e.g., Aarnio & Lindeman, 2005; Lindeman, 2011; Ståhl & van Prooijen, 2018; van Prooijen, 2017).…”

“They don't want you to know the truth”: Evaluating predictors of beliefs in conspiracy theories

“…Concerning paranormal beliefs, our predictions were partially corroborated because two of the paranormal beliefs' factors, Mystical Experience and Spirits/Psychic Abilities, were positive predictors of Conspiracy Mentality. These results are in accordance with previous literature, which has shown this positive relationship (Lobato et al, 2014; Rizeq et al, 2021). Due to the same set of cognitive failures that paranormal and conspiracy beliefs share, it seems that such variable presents as a relevant predictor, but it also can be differential depending on the content of the conspiracy beliefs.…”