The DOI matches its Crossref record; 15 of the 15 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Abstract
A survey of 348 residents of southwestern New Jersey showed that most believed that several of a list of 10 conspiracy theories were at least probably true. People who believed in one conspiracy were more likely to also believe in others. Belief in conspiracies was correlated with anomia, lack of interpersonal trust, and insecurity about employment. Black and hispanic respondents were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than were white respondents. Young people were slightly more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, but there were few significant correlations with gender, educational level, or occupational category.
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In the citing paper
“Research has linked beliefs in conspiracy theories with low levels of trust [8], [33].”
From The Effects of Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Theories on Vaccination Intentions (2014) · cites this paper as [8]
In the citing paper
“Psychologists are learning more about the traits and characteristics associated with beliefs in conspiracy theories more generally, such as mistrust, anomie, political cynicism and Machiavellianism [8], [20], [31], [50]”
From The Effects of Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Theories on Vaccination Intentions (2014) · cites this paper as [8]
In the citing paper
“People who endorse one conspiracy are known to be likely to also endorse multiple others”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [44]
Citations
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“…über einen längeren Zeitraum, konspirativ und im Verborgenen wichtige Ereignisse in der Welt beeinflusst und damit ein eigennütziges, aber für die Gemeinschaft destruktives Ziel verfolgt (Butter 2021; End-rass et al. 2021; Nocun und Lamberty 2021; ähnlich auch Douglas et al. 2017; Goertzel 1994).”
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“For example, psychological research moved toward defining a ‘conspiracy mentality’ (Goertzel 1994).”
BackgroundPropagating COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories: The Influence of Right-Wing Sources
Yu, W., Chen, Z., Meng, X., & Yan, Q. (2024) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440241258026 · Cited by 1
“Specifically, conspiracy theories, as alternative causal explanations, can serve people’s need to feel safe and secure, and a sense of control of their environment, by offering them chances to reject official narratives (Douglas et al., 2017; Goertzel, 1994).”
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“Low self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness, low levels of interpersonal trust, and death-related anxiety have been linked to endorsement of conspiracy theories (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999; Goertzel, 1994; Newheiser et al., 2011).”
BackgroundXiao, W. (2024) · Telematics and Informatics Reports · doi:10.1016/j.teler.2024.100162 · Cited by 2
Refueling a Quiet Fire: Old Truthers and New Discontent in the Wake of COVID-19
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Dentith, M. R. X. (2024) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1080/1047840x.2024.2442913 · Cited by 1
“3 Or not at all; Pummerer et al. source their initial definition from Goertzel (1994), although Goertzel does not define ‘conspiracy theory’ in that work.”
King, A. M. (2025) · Social Sciences · doi:10.3390/socsci14040235 · Cited by 1
Torres-Adán, Á. (2025) · European Security · doi:10.1080/09662839.2025.2506084 · Cited by 1
“First, Lauriola et al. (2024) found that, Italian women were more inclined to hold higher analytical risk perceptions of the possibility of “nuclear World War III” breaking out in the first wave of a panel survey conducted shortly after the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (March 2022).”
InfluentialConspiracy to Commit: Information Pollution, Artificial Intelligence, and Real-World Hate Crime
Aziani, A., Giudice, M. V. L., & Yazdi, A. S. (2025) · European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10610-025-09629-w · Cited by 1
“…allegation of a hidden plot between two or more powerful and malevolent actors that explains real social or political events Douglas et al. (2019); Goertzel (1994), they exist on a spectrum, ranging from the highly implausible, like claims of a reptilian elite running the world, to the more…”
de Gourville, D., Douglas, K. M., & Sutton, R. M. (2025) · British Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjop.70035 · Cited by 5
What Is Interesting About Conspiracy Theories?
Tsapos, M. (2025) · Social Epistemology · doi:10.1080/02691728.2025.2566131 · Cited by 1
“9 For example, Goertzel (1994); Wood and Douglas (2013); Douglas and Sutton (2008); Wood and Gray (2019).”
Mémoire traumatique et expérience brésilienne
Wainberg, J. A. (2012) · Sociétés · doi:10.3917/soc.114.0177 · Cited by 1
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Myers, J. R. (2019) · IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.22492/ijpbs.5.1.04 · Cited by 2
“This supports previous studies that have found young adults are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories (Goertzel, 1994) as well as are less likely to seek or adhere to IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences Volume 5 – Issue 1 – Spring 2019”
ResultThe Conspiracist Strategy: Lessons from American Alternative Health Promotions
Yair, G. (2019) · European Journal of American Studies · doi:10.4000/ejas.14654 · Cited by 1
Triga, V., & Papa, V. (2015) · The Cyprus review · Cited by 1
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Arnal, C., Kolinsky, R., & Klein, O. (2022) · Cahiers de psychologie clinique · doi:10.3917/cpc.058.0111 · Cited by 1
On the Use of Theories in Study of Personal Health Behavior During Epidemics/Pandemics.
Safipour, J. (2020) · doi:10.46940/ssrj.01.1006 · Cited by 1
“A conspiracy theory is a set of beliefs that associate occurrences of an unexplained situation or event to a secret plan and decisions made behind the scenes by powerful people [25].”
BackgroundHow Adult Learning from Media Cultures Changed the World in 2020
Wright, R. R. (2022) · Springer international handbooks of education · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-67930-9_58-1 · Cited by 1
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Midwifery care and social media
Chee, R. M., Capper, T. S., & Muurlink, O. T. (2023) · British Journal of Midwifery · doi:10.12968/bjom.2023.31.2.112 · Cited by 1
Investigating conspiracy beliefs: methodological biases and experimental challenges
Gagliardi, L., & Rusconi, M. (2025) · Social Science Research Network · doi:10.1080/1350178x.2025.2539253 · Cited by 1
“Such narratives targeting the scientific community and methods are dangerous, since they amplify public distrust in institutions, misguide discourse, and foster noncompliance with vital health policies, such as vaccine hesitancy (Goertzel, 2010).”
Determinants of Belief in Conspiracy TheoriesPreprint
Radnitz, S. (2015) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.17605/osf.io/npaef · Cited by 1
Measurement issues and the role of cognitive biases in conspiracist ideation
Brotherton, R. (2013) · Goldsmiths Research Online · Cited by 1
Alien Agendas: A Comparative Analysis of Conspiracy Theories Across Western States
Darke, L. (2019) · The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney) · Cited by 1
Leuker, C., Eggeling, L. M., Fleischhut, N., Gubernath, J., Gumenik, K., Hechtlinger, S., Kozyreva, A., Samaan, L., & Hertwig, R. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/cw2jn · Cited by 1
Ük, B., & Bahçekapılı, H. G. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1603792/v1 · Cited by 1
Anomie as an antecedent of belief in conspiracy theories: social psychological perspectivesPreprint
Klein, O. (2018) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/udcf2 · Cited by 1
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di Napoli, F. (2022) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/y4zer · Cited by 1
Konspiratorisk läggning hos svenska folketPreprint
Strömbäck, J. (2022) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/u2ny5 · Cited by 1
Conspiracy thinking and place-based consciousnessPreprint
Göbel, S., & Lang, A. (2024) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/xu6yj · Cited by 1
Chrisco, S., & Afzal, M. H. B. (2024) · doi:10.33774/apsa-2024-knmq7 · Cited by 1
Perceived Corruption is a Robust Associate of Conspiracy, Paranormal, and Pseudoscience BeliefsPreprint
Alper, S., Düzgün, A., Atalay, E. D., & Yılmaz, O. (2024) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/b5928 · Cited by 1
Hegstad, V. (2014) · SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) · Cited by 1
Conspiracism in Turkish Politics
Mendenhall, E. C. (2011) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 1
The measurement and prediction of conspiracy beliefs
Rose, C. (2017) · Figshare · doi:10.26686/wgtn.17060408.v1 · Cited by 3
The Coupling Operation of Public Culture and Ecological Culture
Dao-jin, S., & Yang, T. (2015) · Cross-cultural communication · doi:10.3968/%x
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Catlaw, T. J. (2013) · Public Administration Quarterly
The intersection of HIV infection with HIV/AIDS beliefs among African Americans
Walton, H. M. (2007) · University Libraries (University of Maryland)
A Paranoid Style? : The JFK Assassination and the Politics and Culture of Conspiracy Theory
Broadbent, J. (2014) · UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia)
Anti-Western Conspiracy Thinking and Expectations of Collusion: Evidence from Russia and ChinaPreprint
Libman, A., & Vollan, B. (2015) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2602724
“A number of studies have investigated issues of conspiracies in terms of psychology (Goertzel 1994; Abalakina-Paap et al. 1999; Swami et al. 2010; Douglas and Sutton 2011; Swami et al. 2011; Wood et al. 2012; van Prooijen and Jostmann 2013), political science (Uscinski et al. 2011; Einstein and…”
BackgroundRothstein, B. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511490323.007
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Rothstein, B. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511490323.001
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Of Conspiracies and Men: The Politics of Evil in Turkey
Altun, M. (2016) · University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy (University of Minnesota)
Examining Different Reasons Why People Accept Or Reject Scientific Claims
Lobato, E. J. C. (2017) · doi:10.30707/etd2017.lobato.e
“Conspiracy ideation is generally regarded as a self-sustaining worldview comprised of alternative explanations for large-scale events endorsed by individuals who harbor a general distrust in recognized authorities, particularly governments (Goertzel, 1994; Wood, Douglas, Sutton, 2011).”
BackgroundCantami, o diva. La bazzecola del dicunt in rete
Rocca, G. L. (2017) · SOCIOLOGIA DELLA COMUNICAZIONE · doi:10.3280/sc2017-053005
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Lost in the labyrinth: Understanding idiosyncratic interpretations of Kubrick's The Shining
Merced, M. (2018) · International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies · doi:10.1002/aps.1592
The Anatomy of Conspiracy Theories
Bergmann, E. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90359-0_3
The Internet and Conspiratorial Beliefs: The Inseparable Pair
Saputra, M. B. (2018) · Jurnal Komunikasi Indonesia · doi:10.7454/jki.v7i3.10071 · Cited by 1
Kuldova, T. Ø. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-15206-2_3
The Cognition of Distrust: Pathways To Attitudes
Mahalak, J. (2018) · OpenCommons at University of Connecticut (University of Connecticut)
Why Do You Believe in Pseudoscience or Disbelieve in Science?
Majima, Y. (2019) · Advances in religious and cultural studies (ARCS) book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-1811-3.ch005
Propagação e influência de pós-verdade e fake news na opinião pública
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The Future of Post-Truth: Defences, Defended, and Defenceless
Maddalena, G., & Gili, G. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41460-3_5
Zur »alltäglichen« Integration und Mobilisierung von Verschwörungsideologien
Engels, C. (2020) · psychosozial · doi:10.30820/0171-3434-2020-1-39
Kilakos, D., & Papaoikonomou, S. (2020) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202007.0316.v1
“…the proper venue to address the issue in detail, it should be mentioned that the discussion on the rationality or irrationality of conspiracy theories is pertinent to the discussion on their justificatory status and on their epistemic acceptability (cf. Coady, 2007; Goertzel, 1994; Räikkä, 2014).”
BackgroundWhat Makes a Belief Seem Implausible to Others? A Q Methodology Study of Conspiracy Beliefs
Daniel, L. (2020) · UEL Research Repository (University of East London) · doi:10.15123/uel.88850
Nunes, G. C. (2020) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
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“Study upon study in the early decades of the epidemic confirmed that HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs were common among African Americans [21-26].”
ResultAnti-Zionism and Anti-Israel Behavior and Sentiment
Fox, J., & Topor, L. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197580349.003.0004
Fox, J., & Topor, L. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197580349.003.0003
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El Virus Conspirativo: Una vacuna
Pomar, F. L. D. (2021) · doi:10.52749/rh.v1i1.5
AN INVESTIGATION ON COVID-19 CONSPIRACY THEORY BELIEFS AMONGST PAKISTANI MUSLIMS
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Conspiratorial Thinking: How Worldview and Mortality Salience Affect Belief
Anderson, E. J. (2013) · Loyola eCommons (Loyola University of Chicago)
TEORIAS DE CONSPIRAÇÃO COMO OBJETO DE ESTUDO PARA A CIÊNCIA DA RELIGIÃO
Stern, F. L., & Grisotto, L. S. (2021) · Revista Relegens Thréskeia · doi:10.5380/rt.v10i2.82440
Fox, J., & Topor, L. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197580349.003.0006
(2021) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80043-660-220211011
Fox, J., & Topor, L. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197580349.003.0005
Conspiratio maligna in a vat, i.e. global conspiracy theories and skepticism
Makuła, S. (2021) · Analiza i Egzystencja · doi:10.18276/aie.2021.56-03
“Wszelkie społeczne perturbacje, od wyborów parlamentarnych po wojny, mogą wywołać poczucie niepewności i lęk, a tym samym zwiększać tendencję do wiary w teorie spiskowe (Byford, 2011; Goertzel, 1994).”
(2002) · Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal eBooks · doi:10.4000/books.pum.21437
Fox, J., & Topor, L. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197580349.003.0001
Teorías de la conspiración, fake news y covid-19Preprint
AISDL (2020) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/atx2h
Fox, J., & Topor, L. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197580349.003.0007
Contemporary Challenges to Democracy
(2022) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108779104.025
The antidepressant hoax: Conspiracy theories decrease health-seeking intentionsPreprint
Natoli, E., & Marques, M. D. (2022) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/8aedm · Cited by 1
Everybody Lies: Misinformation and Its Implications for the 4th Space
Abels, C. M. (2022) · International Society for the Study of Information Summit (IS4SI Summit) · doi:10.3390/proceedings2022081120
“Research provides evidence that people who believe in a certain conspiracy theory oftentimes believe in other theories as well [14], even if they are contradictory, indicating an underlying support for conspiracy theories in general [15].”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Goertzel, T.
- Corresponding author
- Goertzel, Ted
- ORCID
- Goertzel, Ted
- Venue
- Political Psychology
- Publisher
- JSTOR
- Published
- 1994-12
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 731
- ISSN
- 0162-895X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2315116440
- Cited by
- 1,094
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 64 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 119 · 2023: 111 · 2022: 171 · 2021: 140 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 1.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Political Psychology (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 › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
- Keywords
- conspiracy theories, conspiracy beliefs, anomie, interpersonal trust, job insecurity, racial differences, age differences
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