Investigating the Links Between Cultural Values and Belief in Conspiracy Theories: The Key Roles of Collectivism and Masculinity

Abstract

Research suggests that belief in conspiracy theories (CT) stems from basic psychological mechanisms and is linked to other belief systems (e.g., religious beliefs). While previous research has extensively examined individual and contextual variables associated with CT beliefs, it has not yet investigated the role of culture. In the current research, we tested, based on a situated cultural cognition perspective, the extent to which culture predicts CT beliefs. Using Hofstede's model of cultural values, three nation‐level analyses of data from 25, 19, and 18 countries using different measures of CT beliefs (Study 1, N = 5323; Study 2a, N = 12,255; Study 2b, N = 30,994) revealed positive associations between masculinity, collectivism, and CT beliefs. A cross‐sectional study among U.S. citizens (Study 3, N = 350), using individual‐level measures of Hofstede's values, replicated these findings. A meta‐analysis of correlations across studies corroborated the presence of positive links between CT beliefs, collectivism, r = .31, 95% CI = [.15; .47], and masculinity, r = .39, 95% CI = [.18; .59]. Our results suggest that in addition to individual differences and contextual variables, cultural factors also play an important role in shaping CT beliefs.

There are Higher Levels of Conspiracy Beliefs in More Corrupt Countries

“…Psychological literature generally boils the conspiracy theories problem down to the individual factors that make certain people more receptive. Although lack of reasoning skills is associated with conspiracy beliefs (see Douglas et al, 2019), the overemphasis of these factors paints a limited picture, resulting in a chronic disregard of the social context (see Adam-Troian et al, 2020, for an exception). In this paper, I argued that actual conspiracies are more likely in certain countries, as they are much less inclusive than others, and the majority is unfairly treated and exploited for the sake of a small group of elites in these societies (Acemoglu & Robinson, 2012).…”

Of Precarity and Conspiracy: Introducing A Socio-Functional Model of Conspiracy Beliefs

“…In a similar way, the effects of precarity on physical health may well translate into increased CB through death-related anxiety (Newheiser et al, 2011) through their impact on subjective SES for instance (Cundiff et al, 2017). Likewise, poverty and low-social status are associated with more interdependent conceptions of the self and collectivistic values (Iacoviello et al, 2019), which has been shown to directly predict CB (Adam-Troian et al, 2020b;van Prooijen et al, 2021).…”

“…Social-psychological research has demonstrated that CB can be seen as the by-product of intuitive reasoning (Swami et al, 2014), conflictual intergroup relations , maladaptive coping strategies (Marchlewska et al, 2021), uncertainty, distrust (Chayinska et al, in press;van Mulukom et al, 2021) and cultural environments that promote these factors (Adam-Troian et al, 2020b).…”

Conspiracy beliefs and the individual, relational, and collective selves

“…Similarly, Sternisko, Cichocka, Cislak and colleagues (2020) replicated the association between collective narcissism and conspiracy beliefs in 55 countries. However, other research has begun to uncover the differential role cultural orientations may play in the formation of conspiracy beliefs (Adam-Troian et al, 2020;Biddlestone, Green, et al, 2020;van Prooijen & Song, 2020). One implication may be that different cultural orientations could alter the way in which different self motives operate.…”