Girl in the cellar: a repeated cross-sectional investigation of belief in conspiracy theories about the kidnapping of Natascha Kampusch

Abstract

The present study utilized a repeated cross-sectional survey design to examine belief in conspiracy theories about the abduction of Natascha Kampusch. At two time points (October 2009 and October 2011), participants drawn from independent cross-sections of the Austrian population (Time Point 1, N = 281; Time Point 2, N = 277) completed a novel measure of belief in conspiracy theories concerning the abduction of Kampusch, as well as measures of general conspiracist ideation, self-esteem, paranormal and superstitious beliefs, cognitive ability, and media exposure to the Kampusch case. Results indicated that although belief in the Kampusch conspiracy theory declined between testing periods, the effect size of the difference was small. In addition, belief in the Kampusch conspiracy theory was significantly predicted by general conspiracist ideation at both time points. The need to conduct further longitudinal tests of conspiracist ideation is emphasized in conclusion.

Associations between belief in conspiracy theories and the maladaptive personality traits of the personality inventory for DSM-5

“…This being the case, individuals who experience maladaptive cognitive-perceptual processing may be more likely to accept a range of beliefs that are anomalous. This explanation would also help to reports of significant associations between conspiracist ideation and paranormal beliefs (e.g., Brotherton & Eser, 2014;Lobato et al, 2014;Stieger et al, 2013;Swami et al, 2011).…”

“…In support of this perspective, studies have reported positive associations between belief in conspiracy theories and traits including paranoia, magical ideation, and belief in the paranormal (e.g., Brotherton & Eser, 2014;Lobato, Mendoza, Sims, & Chin, 2014;Stieger, Gumhalter, Tran, Voracek, & Swami, 2013;Swami et al, 2011). In explanation, it has been suggested that conspiracy theories and anomalous beliefs share features in common (e.g., both overly rely on intuitive-experiential processing of information and lack rigorous, selfgenerated testing; Swami, Voracek, Stieger, Tran & Furnham, 2014) and that endorsement of one set of anomalous beliefs (e.g., belief in the paranormal) makes acceptance of other anomalous beliefs (e.g., conspiracy theories) more likely (Ramsay, 2006).…”

Does Self-Love or Self-Hate Predict Conspiracy Beliefs? Narcissism, Self-Esteem, and the Endorsement of Conspiracy Theories

“…Low self-esteem was only a marginally significant predictor of various conspiracy beliefs in the study by Abalkina-Paap and colleagues (1999). In other studies, low self-esteem significantly predicted endorsement of some conspiracy theories (e.g., concerning the London bombings of July 7, 2005, Swami RUNNING HEAD: Narcissism and conspiracy beliefs 4 et al, 2011; see also Swami & Furnham, 2012) but not others (e.g., concerning conspiratorial actions of Jews, Swami, 2012; see also Crocker et al, 1999;Stieger, Gumhalter, Tran, Voracek, & Swami, 2013). Similarly, general conspiracist ideation was negatively correlated with self-esteem in a study by Stieger and colleagues (2013; although the correlation was significant only in the first wave of measurement) but this relationship was weaker and nonsignificant in a study by Swami (2012).…”

Associations between schizotypy and belief in conspiracist ideation

“…In support of this perspective, researchers have recently begun examining associations between conspiracist ideation and traits such as paranoid ideation, superstitious beliefs, magical ideation, and belief in the paranormal (Brotherton, French, & Pickering, 2013;Bruder, Haffke, Neave, Nouripanah, & Imhoff, 2013;Darwin, Neave, & Holmes, 2011;Stieger, Gumhalter, Tran, Voracek, & Swami, 2013;Swami et al, 2011). In addition, three studies have reported significant associations between conspiracist ideation and schizotypal personality disposition (Bruder et al, 2013;Darwin et al, 2011;Swami et al, 2013).…”