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Dead and Alive: Beliefs in Contradictory Conspiracy Theories
Abstract
Conspiracy theories can form a monological belief system: A self-sustaining worldview comprised of a network of mutually supportive beliefs. The present research shows that even mutually incompatible conspiracy theories are positively correlated in endorsement. In Study 1 ( n = 137), the more participants believed that Princess Diana faked her own death, the more they believed that she was murdered. In Study 2 ( n = 102), the more participants believed that Osama Bin Laden was already dead when U.S. special forces raided his compound in Pakistan, the more they believed he is still alive. Hierarchical regression models showed that mutually incompatible conspiracy theories are positively associated because both are associated with the view that the authorities are engaged in a cover-up (Study 2). The monological nature of conspiracy belief appears to be driven not by conspiracy theories directly supporting one another but by broader beliefs supporting conspiracy theories in general.
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“This is consistent with findings that participants who believed in one conspiracy theory were also more likely to believe in others, even when they were contradictory [42,43].”
From The dark side of social movements: social identity, non-conformity, and the lure of conspiracy theories (2020) · cites this paper as [42]
In the citing paper
“the simultaneous belief in mutually contradictory theories—e.g., that Princess Diana was murdered but faked her own death—is a notable aspect of conspiracist ideation [30]”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [30]
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Self-citationPartisanship, Individual Differences, and News Media Exposure as Predictors of Conspiracy Beliefs
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“For example, Wood, Douglas, and Sutton (2012) found that study participants who believed Osama bin Laden was already dead when U.S. Special Forces raided his Pakistan compound also believed he remains alive.”
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“Believing in different conspiracies does not mean that they must logically imply one another – as the study by Wood et al. (2012) cleverly shows – but that they resonate with the same underlying narrative.”
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“We do so despite the fact that the conspiracy theory in our design should have no influence in this domain, as conspiracy beliefs are noted for their inconsistency (Wood et al., 2012).”
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“That is, people who already believe in one conspiracy theory are likely to also believe in other, even mutually contradictory conspiracy theories (Wood, et al., 2012).”
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“…findings indicating that beliefs in conspiracy theories are correlated within individuals, even if the conspiracy theories are inconsistent, and has connected this finding to a conspiratorial mindset with a generalized predisposition of suspicion of all official authority (e.g., Wood et al. 2012).”
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“It predicts beliefs in specific conspiracy theories—even contradictory (Wood et al., 2012) or fictitious ones (Swami et al.”
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“…feelings of loss of control and powerlessness, dissatisfaction in life, political alienation (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999; Brotherton et al., 2013; Bruder et al., 2013; Goertzel, 1994; Green & Douglas, 2018; Imhoff & Bruder, 2014; Swami, 2012; Wagner-Egger & Bangerter, 2007; Wood et al., 2012).”
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“conspiracy theory are more prone to believe in other such theories (Goertzel, 1994; Swami et al., 2010; Swami et al., 2011; Wood et al., 2012), suggesting a monological conspiracy mentality (Bruder et al.”
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“Conspiracy thinking may indicate people’s tendency to reject mainstream consensuses and views because of their deep-rooted bias against powerful groups and official accounts (Wood et al., 2012), a mind-set associated with negative attitudes toward authority (Cichocka et al., 2016).”
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“…of specific CTs is typically highly correlated, that is, a person who endorses any one conspiracy belief is relatively more likely to also endorse any other (Bruder et al., 2013; Goertzel, 1994), even if these beliefs are logically incompatible (Imhoff & Lamberty, 2020; Wood et al., 2012).”
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“This result goes in hand with findings that belief in one conspiracy myth also promotes the belief in others—even if contradictory (Wood et al., 2012).”
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“For example, Wood et al. (2012) found that individuals who believe that Princess Diana was killed by the business enemies of Dodi Al-Fayed also believe that Diana faked her own death.”
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Choli, M., & Kuss, D. J. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.106895 · Cited by 48
Peitz, L., Lalot, F., Douglas, K. M., Sutton, R. M., & Abrams, D. (2021) · Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology · doi:10.1177/18344909211046646 · Cited by 42
“Importantly, however, past research found that specific, mutually incompatible conspiracy beliefs are often endorsed by the same individual (Goertzel, 1994; Wood et al., 2012).”
BackgroundSelf-citationIrrational Beliefs about COVID-19: A Scoping Review
Magarini, F. M., Pinelli, M., Sinisi, A., Ferrari, S., Fazio, G. L. D., & Galeazzi, G. M. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18199839 · Cited by 47
Filkuková, P., Ayton, P., Rand, K., & Langguth, J. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.588478 · Cited by 47
“Previous studies (e.g., Swami et al., 2010; Wood et al., 2012) have shown that those who believe in one conspiracy theory are also likely to endorse other conspiracy theories even in cases when they are mutually exclusive.”
Attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccination on Social Media: A Cross-Platform Analysis
Wawrzuta, D., Klejdysz, J., Jaworski, M., Gotlib, J., & Pańczyk, M. (2022) · Vaccines · doi:10.3390/vaccines10081190 · Cited by 44
“These conspiracy theories in such narratives may be inconsistent but are tied together by a belief that the government hides the truth [56].”
BackgroundConspiracy theories and reasonable pluralism
Cíbik, M., & Hardoš, P. (2020) · European Journal of Political Theory · doi:10.1177/1474885119899232 · Cited by 42
“Proponents of certain types of conspiracy theories seem more likely to hold contradictory views, which threatens rationality and logic (Wood et al., 2012), while morals are also at stake, since people likely to endorse conspiracy theories do so because they themselves would willingly participate in…”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Wood, M. J., Douglas, K. M., & Sutton, R. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Kent (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wood, Michael J.
- Venue
- Social Psychological and Personality Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-01-25
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 767-773
- ISSN
- 1948-5506 (ISSN-L)
- 1948-5514
- OpenAlex
- W2133598673
- Cited by
- 660
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 49 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 96 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 72.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Psychological and Personality Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- conspiracy theories, belief endorsement, cover-up, Princess Diana, Osama bin Laden, Bayesian networks, conspiracy beliefs
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