Cited by 626Misinformation and Its ImpactsTerrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political ViolenceSocial and Intergroup Psychology

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Political Extremism Predicts Belief in Conspiracy Theories

van Prooijen, Jan-Willem, Krouwel, André P. M., Pollet, Thomas V.·2015·Social Psychological and Personality Science

DOI 10.1177/1948550614567356

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Abstract

Historical records suggest that the political extremes—at both the “left” and the “right”—substantially endorsed conspiracy beliefs about other-minded groups. The present contribution empirically tests whether extreme political ideologies, at either side of the political spectrum, are positively associated with an increased tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. Four studies conducted in the United States and the Netherlands revealed a quadratic relationship between strength of political ideology and conspiracy beliefs about various political issues. Moreover, participants’ belief in simple political solutions to societal problems mediated conspiracy beliefs among both left- and right-wing extremists. Finally, the effects described here were not attributable to general attitude extremity. Our conclusion is that political extremism and conspiracy beliefs are strongly associated due to a highly structured thinking style that is aimed at making sense of societal events.

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Authors: van Prooijen, J.-W., Krouwel, A. P. M., & Pollet, T. V.
Affiliations: VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID: Krouwel, André P. M.
Pollet, Thomas V.
Venue: Social Psychological and Personality Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2015-01-12
Volume: 6
Issue: 5
Pages: 570-578
ISSN: 1948-5506 (ISSN-L)
1948-5514
DOI: 10.1177/1948550614567356
OpenAlex: W2327590731
Cited by: 626
References: 41
Citations by year: 2026: 38 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 115 · 2021: 111 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 8
FWCI: 96.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Social Psychological and Personality Science (publishedVersion)
VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (submittedVersion)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords: political extremism, conspiracy beliefs, political ideology, left-wing extremism, right-wing extremism, attitude extremity

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Political Extremism Predicts Belief in Conspiracy Theories

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