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Cited by 186Misinformation and Its ImpactsDeception detection and forensic psychologyCrime Patterns and Interventions

Belief in conspiracy theories and intentions to engage in everyday crime

Open access
Jolley, Daniel, Douglas, Karen M., Leite, Ana C., Schrader, Tanya·2019·British Journal of Social Psychology
DOI 10.1111/bjso.12311
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Abstract

Belief in conspiracy theories is associated with negative outcomes such as political disengagement, prejudice, and environmental inaction. The current studies – one cross‐sectional ( N = 253) and one experimental ( N = 120) – tested the hypothesis that belief in conspiracy theories would increase intentions to engage in everyday crime. Study 1 demonstrated that belief in conspiracy theories predicted everyday crime behaviours when controlling for other known predictors of everyday crime (e.g., Honesty–Humility). Study 2 demonstrated that exposure to conspiracy theories (vs. control) increased intentions to engage in everyday crime in the future, through an increased feeling of anomie. The perception that others have conspired may therefore in some contexts lead to negative action rather than inaction.

Verified 2026-10-09 · 1 reference not checked yet

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Belief in conspiracy theories predicted greater everyday crime in a cross-sectional UK sample, and experimental exposure to conspiracy material increased future everyday crime intentions via anomie. The findings suggest conspiracy beliefs can promote active antisocial behavior, not only disengagement or inaction.

Key findings

  • Study 1: conspiracy beliefs were positively correlated with everyday crime behaviors (r = .26, p < .001) and uniquely predicted them in hierarchical regression (β = .15, p < .05; Step 3 R² = .35, ΔR² = .02), controlling for demographics, HEXACO traits, and moral identity. Honesty-Humility was the strongest predictor (β = −.39, p < .001).
  • Study 2: exposure to a conspiracy article increased intentions to engage in everyday crime in the future (conspiracy M = 2.50, SD = 1.39 vs. control M = 2.02, SD = .93; t(118) = −2.2464, p = .027, d = 0.41).
  • Study 2 mediation: conspiracy exposure marginally increased anomie (conspiracy M = 4.32, SD = .97 vs. control M = 3.96, SD = 1.07; t(118) = −1.916, p = .058, d = 0.34), and anomie mediated the effect on everyday crime intentions (mean estimate = .12, SE = .07, 95% CI [.0060, .3012]). Disillusionment did not differ between conditions (t(118) = .118, p = .906).
  • Manipulation check: conspiracy endorsement was higher in the conspiracy condition (M = 4.28, SD = 1.15) than control (M = 3.84, SD = 1.20; t(118) = −2.03, p = .044, d = 0.37).

Methods

  • Study 1: cross-sectional online UK Prolific sample (abstract reports N = 252; Method reports N = 253: 93 male, 157 female, 3 transgender; M age = 36.97, SD = 11.71). Measures included HEXACO-60, Moral Identity Scale, general and specific conspiracy beliefs, and the Everyday Crime Scale for past behavior and intentions; conspiracy items were combined into one scale (α = .96) and everyday crime items into one scale (α = .84). Main analysis was hierarchical regression entering age/gender, HEXACO and moral identity, then conspiracy beliefs.
  • Study 2: experimental UK Prolific sample of N = 120 (32 male, 88 female; M age = 33.88, SD = 10.35), randomized to a conspiracy article (n = 60) or control (n = 60). Measures included a conspiracy manipulation check, anomie, disillusionment, and future everyday crime intentions; mediation was tested with PROCESS Model 4 using 5,000 bootstraps.

Limitations

  • Stated: social desirability may have affected self-reports; the outcome was intentions rather than actual behavior; financial situation could not be ruled out; the design could not test whether conspiracy theories appeal to those already predisposed to immoral behavior or alter perceived norms; longitudinal designs, alternative causal paths (e.g., anomie → conspiracy), and other mediators/moderators (e.g., moral disengagement, social identity) remain untested.
  • Stated: Study 2 effect sizes were moderate, and Honesty-Humility explained the largest variance in Study 1.
  • Evident from the text: Study 1 sample size is inconsistent (abstract N = 252 vs. Method N = 253), and Study 2’s anomie condition difference is only marginal (p = .058) even though the mediation confidence interval excludes zero.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/bjso.12311

Cites

56 of 58 references verified0 citation errors · 1 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 50 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Exposure to conspiracy theories (vs. control) increased intentions to engage in everyday crime in the future.

    “Study 2 demonstrated that exposure to conspiracy theories (vs.control) increased intentions to engage in everyday crime in the future”
    • Also stated in: § Conspiracy theories and everyday crime · plain
      “Next, a t-test revealed that being exposed to a conspiracy article (vs. control) influenced participants' levels of intention to engage in everyday crime in the future, t(118) = -2.2464,p = .027,d = 0.41.”
    • Also stated in: § Conspiracy theories and everyday crime · plain
      “Specifically, intentions to engage in everyday crime were significantly higher in the conspiracy condition (M = 2.50, SD = 1.39) than the control condition (M = 2.02, SD = .93).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Study 1 found that belief in conspiracy theories predicted everyday crime behaviours when controlling for other known predictors of everyday crime (e.g., Honesty-Humility).

    “Study 1 demonstrated that belief in conspiracy theories predicted everyday crime behaviours when controlling for other known predictors of everyday crime (e.g., Honesty-Humility).”
    • Also stated in: § Results and discussion · boosted
      “These results provide empirical evidence that belief in conspiracy theories plays a unique role in predicting a person's everyday crime behaviour when controlling for the effects of other known predictors.”
    • Also stated in: § Results and discussion · plain
      “Specifically, belief in conspiracy theories predicted everyday crime behaviours, alongside Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Openness to Experience.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In Study 2, exposure to a pro-conspiracy article (vs. control) did not affect participants' disillusionment (t(118) = .118, p = .906).

    “There was, however, no difference in the measure of disillusionment, t(118) = .118,p = .906.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Belief in conspiracy theories was significantly positively correlated with everyday crime behaviours.

    “As expected, belief in conspiracy theories was significantly positively correlated with everyday crime behaviours.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In Study 2, anomie significantly mediated the effect of exposure to conspiracy theories (vs. control) on intentions to engage in everyday crime in the future, with an indirect effect of .12 (SE .07), 95% CI [.0060, .3012].

    “Based on bootstrapping with 5000 resamples using PROCESS Model 4, the mean estimates effect is .12(SE .07)with 95% confidence interval of .0060 to .3012.”
    • Also stated in: § General discussion · plain
      “However, whilst we found that anomie was a significant mediator of the relationship between conspiracy theories and criminal behaviour (Study 2), feelings of disillusionment did not mediate.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 20
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 32

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Criminal behaviours were negatively associated with Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness-Anger, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience and Moral Identity (symbolisation), and positively associated with Extraversion.

    “Criminal behaviours were also negatively associated with Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness-Anger, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience and Moral Identity (symbolisation), and positively associated with Extraversion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Honesty-Humility was negatively correlated with conspiracy beliefs, and Moral Identity (internalisation) was positively correlated with conspiracy beliefs.

    “Honesty-Humility was negatively correlated conspiracy beliefs, and Moral Identity (internalisation) was positively correlated with conspiracy beliefs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Exploratory factor analysis of everyday crime items revealed one factor (eigenvalue 4.23) explaining 52.81% of variance, so items were combined into one measure.

    “Using oblique rotation (promax), we conducted an exploratory factor analysis of the individual items of both scales.Statistical assumptions were met, and the analysis revealed one factor (eigenvalue 4.23), explaining 52.81 per cent of the variance.We therefore combined the items into one measure of everyday crime (α = .84).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 2, the effect sizes, whilst robust, were of moderate size.

    “It is worth noting, however, that Honesty-Humility was shown to explain the largest variance in predicting everyday crime, and in Study 2, the effect sizes, whilst robust, were of moderate size.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Everyday crimes are common offences that most people are likely to commit at some point in their lives.

    “Everyday crimes are common offences that most people are likely to commit at some point in their lives (Karstedt & Farrall, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Karstedt & Farrall, 2006

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    Premisecitation

    Conspiracy theories appear to increase feelings of powerlessness and disillusionment rather than making people feel better.

    “Conspiracy theories appear to increase feelings of powerlessness and disillusionment (Jolley & Douglas, 2014b) rather than making people feel better.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014b

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    Premisecitation

    Conspiracy theories can fuel intergroup conflict and prejudice, which can generalize to other out-groups not involved in the alleged conspiracies.

    “They can fuel intergroup conflict and prejudice (e.g., Bilewicz, Winiewski, Kofta, & Wójcik, 2013;Kofta & Sedek, 2005;Golec de Zavala & Cichocka, 2012), which in turn can even generalize to other out-groups who are not involved in the alleged conspiracies (Jolley, Meleady, & Douglas, under review).”
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    • cites Golec de Zavala & Cichocka, 2012

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    Premisecitation

    Belief in organisational conspiracy theories is associated with decreased commitment to the organisation, increased job dissatisfaction, and willingness to leave the organisation.

    “Moreover, belief in organisational conspiracy theories-that is, believing that powerful groups act secretly to achieve objectives at the cost of employees-is associated with decreased commitment to the organisation, and with increased job dissatisfaction and willingness to leave the organisation (Douglas & Leite, 2017).”
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    • cites Douglas & Leite, 2017

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    Premisecitation

    Conspiracy theories appear to discourage people from voting, from reducing their carbon footprint, and from vaccinating their children.

    “For example, conspiracy theories appear to discourage people from voting, from reducing their carbon footprint, and from vaccinating their children (Jolley & Douglas, 2014a, 2014b).”
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    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014a, 2014b

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    Premisecitation

    Belief in conspiracy theories is associated with negative outcomes such as political disengagement, prejudice, and environmental inaction.

    “Belief in conspiracy theories is associated with negative outcomes such as political disengagement, prejudice, and environmental inaction.”
    • Also stated in: § Belief in conspiracy theories and intentions to engage in everyday crime · plain
      “including political disengagement, prejudice, and environmental inaction (see Douglas et al., 2017 for a review).”
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    • cites Douglas et al., 2017

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    Premisecitation

    Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness predicted White Collar Crime behaviours.

    “In a similar vein, van Gelder and de Vries (2016) found that Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness predicted White Collar Crime (WCC) behaviours, which are crimes committed by employees against their employing organisation.”
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    • cites van Gelder and de Vries (2016)

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    Premisecitation

    In the HEXACO model, Honesty-Humility is an important predictor of unethical business decisions.

    “Specifically, in the HEXACO model of personality (Lee & Ashton, 2004), Honesty-Humility (which embodies people's moral conscience) is an important predictor of unethical business decisions (Lee & Ashton, 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lee & Ashton, 2008

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    Premisecitation

    Conspiracy theories are associated with increased levels of mistrust, cynicism, and anomie.

    “Specifically, conspiracy theories are associated with increased levels of mistrust (Einstein & Glick, 2015;Jolley & Douglas, 2014b), cynicism (Swami, Chamorro-Premuzic, & Furnham, 2010) and anomie-or a general feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction (Abalakina-Paap, Stephan, Craig, & Gregory, 1999).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Einstein & Glick, 2015

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    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014b

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    • cites Swami, Chamorro-Premuzic, & Furnham, 2010

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    Premisecitation

    Moral identity predicts a lower likelihood of lying in a salary negotiation and a greater likelihood of acting in a prosocial way.

    “For example, moral identity predicts a lower likelihood of lying in a salary negotiation and a greater likelihood of acting in a prosocial way (Aquino, Freeman, Reed, Lim, & Felps, 2009;Winterich, Aquino, Mittal, & Swartz, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Aquino, Freeman, Reed, Lim, & Felps, 2009

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    • cites Winterich, Aquino, Mittal, & Swartz, 2013

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    Premisecitation

    Douglas et al. (2017) suggested that social factors such as anomie and feelings of alienation are likely to be exacerbated by conspiracy theories.

    “In a recent review, Douglas et al. (2017) suggested that social factors, such as anomie and feelings of alienation, are likely to be exacerbated by conspiracy theories.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Douglas et al. (2017)

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    Premisecitation

    Honesty-Humility is a robust individual-level correlate of criminal behaviour, alongside Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, which consistently predict criminal and anti-social behaviour.

    “It is also a robust individual-level correlate of criminal behaviour (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990;Pratt & Cullen, 2000), alongside Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, which consistently predict criminal and anti-social behaviour (Miller & Lynam, 2001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990

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    • cites Pratt & Cullen, 2000

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    • cites Miller & Lynam, 2001

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The imbalance between cultural goals and the means available to individuals to achieve what is expected is likely to result in anomie, which in turn increases deviant behaviour and crime.

    “Specifically, the imbalance between cultural goals (i.e., what is expected at the individual level) and the means available to individuals to achieve what is expected, are is likely to result in anomie, which in turn increases deviant behaviour and crime.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Merton (1938Merton ( , 1957) )

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    Premisecitation

    Social reality is often uncertain, and people often look to others to infer expected attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours.

    “Given that social reality is often uncertain, people will often look to others to infer what the expected attitudes, beliefs and behaviours are that will help them navigate the social world (Festinger, 1950;Reynolds, Subašić, & Tindall, 2014).”
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    • cites Festinger, 1950

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    • cites Reynolds, Subašić, & Tindall, 2014

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    Premisecitation

    Conspiracy theories are associated with anomie, and anomie is associated with unethical behaviours.

    “Specifically, we know that conspiracy theories are associated with anomie (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999) and that anomie, in turn, is associated with unethical behaviours (Ramaseshan & Ewing, 2001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999

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    • cites Ramaseshan & Ewing, 2001

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    Study design and conductcitation

    A sample size of 253 participants was recruited following recommendations for stable correlations (n = 250).

    “Following recommendations regarding sample size calculations to receive stable correlations (n = 250; Schönbrodt & Perugini, 2013), 253 participants (93 male, 157 female and three transgender; Mage = 36.97,SD = 11.71) were recruited via the online recruitment platform, Prolific Academic.”
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    • cites Schönbrodt & Perugini, 2013

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    Study design and conductnone given

    The scales were presented in random order.

    “These scales were presented in random order.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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    Study design and conductown data

    Participants were randomly assigned to conspiracy theory article vs control conditions.

    “Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions (conspiracy theory article [n = 60] vs. control [n = 60]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Twelve statements about conspiracy theories were used as a manipulation check.

    “Participants were then asked to read twelve statements about conspiracy theories, which were used as a manipulation check (Jolley & Douglas, 2014b, α = .91).”
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    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014b

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    Study design and conductnone given

    Presentation of the everyday crime scales was counterbalanced.

    “Presentation of the scales was counterbalanced.”
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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    A sample size of approximately 120 was required for 80% power to detect a small-medium effect size determined from previous research.

    “A small-medium effect size determined from previous research (e.g., Jolley & Douglas, 2014a, 2014b) required a sample size of approximately 120 for 80% power of detecting the effect.”
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    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014a, 2014b

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    Study design and conductnone given

    Presentation of the two conspiracy scales was counterbalanced.

    “Presentation of the two scales was counterbalanced.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Exposure to a pro-conspiracy account (vs. control) directly increases feelings of anomie, leading to an increased intention to engage in everyday crime in the future.

    “The results demonstrated that being exposed to a pro-conspiracy account (vs.control) directly increase feelings of anomie, leading to an increased intention to engage in everyday crime in the future.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    A key contextual factor may be feeling empowered by the action or inaction.

    “A key contextual factor may be feeling empowered by the action or inaction.”
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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Social factors such as alienation and anomie may be psychological antecedents of belief in conspiracy theories and may also be exacerbated by exposure to conspiracy theories.

    “This is consistent with recent theorising suggesting that social factors, such as alienation and anomie, may not only be psychological antecedents of belief in conspiracy theories, but they might also be exacerbated by exposure to conspiracy theories (Douglas et al., 2017).”
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    • cites Douglas et al., 2017

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    Premisecitation

    Beliefs in conspiracy theories are dynamic and vary according to the social context, including being influenced by people's epistemic, existential, and social motives.

    “Importantly, this finding also supports the idea that beliefs in conspiracy theories are dynamic and vary according to the social context, including being influenced by people's epistemic, existential, and social motives (Douglas et al., 2017).”
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    Interpretationreasoning

    Disillusionment may promote more passive responses to conspiracy theories (e.g., political inaction) rather than active responses (e.g., engaging in crime).

    “Disillusionment may promote more passive responses to conspiracy theories (e.g., political inaction) rather than active responses (e.g., engaging in crime).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Honesty-Humility is a consistent predictor of everyday crime.

    “Alongside predictors such as Honesty-Humility, which is a consistent predictor of everyday crime (van Gelder & de Vries, 2016), belief in conspiracy theories was also a significant positive predictor of such behaviour.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites van Gelder & de Vries, 2016

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    Study design and conductreasoning

    Social desirability may have played a role in the participants' answers in our studies.

    “For example, social desirability may have played a role in the participants' answers in our studies.”
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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Previous research has demonstrated that conspiracy theories can lead to disengagement from politics, climate science, vaccination and the workplace.

    “Previous research has demonstrated that conspiracy theories can lead to disengagement from politics, climate science, vaccination and the workplace (Douglas & Leite, 2017;Jolley & Douglas, 2014a, 2014b).”
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    • cites Douglas & Leite, 2017

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    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014a, 2014b

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    Interpretationown data

    Conspiracy theories do not always lead to apathy and inaction; instead, they might lead people to actively engage in antisocial behaviour.

    “It demonstrates that conspiracy theories do not always lead to apathy and inaction.Instead, conspiracy theories might lead people to actively engage in antisocial behaviour.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Previous research found that disillusionment was influenced by conspiracy theories and that disillusionment mediated the relationship between exposure to conspiracy theories and both political and environmental intentions.

    “This was surprising since previous research has found that disillusionment was influenced by conspiracy theories, and that disillusionment mediated the relationship between exposure to conspiracy theories and both political and environmental intentions (Jolley & Douglas, 2014b).”
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    • cites Jolley & Douglas, 2014b

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    Premisecitation

    People who believed in conspiracy theories were more likely to take political action such as organizing a protest.

    “This finding resonates with the work of Imhoff and Bruder (2014) who found that people who believed in conspiracy theories were more likely to take political action such as organizing a protest.”
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    • cites Imhoff and Bruder (2014)

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    Study design and conductown data

    The current research was unable to examine the possibility that conspiracy theories appeal to those who are already predisposed to immoral behaviour.

    “Furthermore, whilst in the current research we were able to provide casual evidence that conspiracy theories predict everyday crime via feelings of anomie, we were unable to examine the possibility that conspiracy theories appeal to those who are already predisposed to immoral behaviour.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Moral disengagement may account for decisions to engage in WCC behaviours.

    “For example, research has shown that moral disengagement may account for decisions to engage in WCC behaviours (Egan, Hughes, & Palmer, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Egan, Hughes, & Palmer, 2015

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The current investigation measured a range of everyday crime behavioural intentions instead of focusing on a single behavioural indicator.

    “It also allowed us to measure a range of everyday crime behavioural intentions instead of focusing on a single behavioural indicator.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Differences in financial security could plausibly determine attitudes and behaviours associated with crime.

    “Although participants on Prolific Academic are predominantly in fulltime employment (see Prolific Academic, 2018), differences in financial security could plausibly determine attitudes and behaviours associated with crime.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Greater anomie might lead to higher conspiracy belief, which could predict intentions to engage in everyday crimes.

    “However, it is plausible that a different causal path may also exist.That is, greater anomie might lead to higher conspiracy belief, which could predict intentions to engage in everyday crimes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    We cannot rule out the possibility that participants' criminal behaviours were the result of their financial situation rather than their conspiracy beliefs.

    “Another limitation of the current research is that we cannot rule out the possibility that participants' criminal behaviours were the result of their financial situation rather than their conspiracy beliefs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The current investigation ensured anonymity to participants who took part.

    “However, the current investigation did allow us to study the sensitive topic of everyday crime whilst ensuring anonymity to participants who took part.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The role of conspiracy theories in predicting everyday crime is unexplored, and researchers have paid less attention to whether conspiracy beliefs lead individuals to engage in unethical behaviours themselves.

    “However, researchers have paid less attention to whether conspiracy beliefs lead individuals to engage in unethical behaviours themselves.”
    “However, the role of conspiracy theories in predicting everyday crime remains unexplored.”
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Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentt(118) = -2.03reported p = .044 · recomputed p = .045

    “t(118) = -2.03,p = .044”

  • Consistentt(118) = -2.2464reported p = .027 · recomputed p = .027

    “t(118) = -2.2464,p = .027”

  • Consistentt(118) = -1.916reported p = .058 · recomputed p = .058

    “t(118) = -1.916,p = .058”

  • Consistentt(118) = 0.118reported p = .906 · recomputed p = .906

    “t(118) = .118,p = .906”

  • ConsistentF(1, 118) = 5reported p = .027 · recomputed p = .027

    “F(1,118) = 5.00, p = .027”

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Figure marks the total effect as p < .01 despite reporting p = .027

    Minor

    The figure marks the .48 total-effect estimate with two asterisks, defined as p < .01. The text reports p = .027 for the same conspiracy-versus-control effect on crime intentions.

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Jolley D., Exposure to intergroup conspiracy theories promotes generalized prejudice

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Authors
Jolley, D., Douglas, K. M., Leite, A. C., & Schrader, T.
Affiliations
  • University of Staffordshire (GB)
  • University of Kent (GB)
Corresponding author
Jolley, Daniel
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Social Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-01-19
Volume
58
Issue
3
Pages
534-549
ISSN
  • 0144-6665 (ISSN-L)
  • 2044-8309
DOI
10.1111/bjso.12311
OpenAlex
W2909408410
Semantic Scholar
c6166d1b0d39491fc8eb8cf3b070be4cc493289e
Cited by
186
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 4
FWCI
46.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • British Journal of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Staffordshire Online Repository (Staffordshire University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Funders
British Psychological Society
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Deception detection and forensic psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
Keywords
conspiracy theories, everyday crime, anomie, honesty-humility, political disengagement, prejudice
MeSH terms
Adult, Anomie, Crime, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Politics, Social Behavior, Thinking

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

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