TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the links between cultural values and belief in conspiracy theories
T2 - the key roles of collectivism and masculinity
AU - Adam-Troian, Jais
AU - Wagner-Egger, Pascal
AU - Motyl, Matt
AU - Arciszewski, Thomas
AU - Imhoff, Roland
AU - Zimmer, Felix
AU - Klein, Oliver
AU - Babinska, Maria
AU - Bangerter, Adrian
AU - Bilewicz, Michal
AU - Blanuša, Nebojša
AU - Bovan, Kosta
AU - Bužarovska, Rumena
AU - Cichocka, Aleksandra
AU - Çelebi, Elif
AU - Delouvée, Sylvain
AU - Douglas, Karen M.
AU - Dyrendal, Asbjørn
AU - Gjoneska, Biljana
AU - Graf, Sylvie
AU - Gualda, Estrella
AU - Hirschberger, Gilad
AU - Kende, Anna
AU - Krekó, Peter
AU - Krouwel, André
AU - Lamberty, Pia
AU - Mari, Silvia
AU - Milosevic, Jasna
AU - Panasiti, Maria Serena
AU - Pantaz, Myrto
AU - Petkovsk, Ljupcho
AU - Porciello, Giuseppina
AU - Prims, JP
AU - Rabelo, André
AU - Schepis, Michael
AU - Sutton, Robbie M.
AU - Swami, Viren
AU - Thórisdóttir, Hulda
AU - Turjačanin, Vladimir
AU - Zezelj, Iris
AU - van Prooijen, Jan-Willem
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - 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 = 5,323; Study 2a, N= 12,255; Study 2b, N = 30,994) revealed positive associations between Masculinity, Collectivism and CT beliefs. A cross-sectional study among US 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 shapingCT beliefs.
AB - 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 = 5,323; Study 2a, N= 12,255; Study 2b, N = 30,994) revealed positive associations between Masculinity, Collectivism and CT beliefs. A cross-sectional study among US 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 shapingCT beliefs.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85097140117
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85097140117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/pops.12716
DO - 10.1111/pops.12716
M3 - Article
SN - 0162-895X
VL - 42
SP - 597
EP - 618
JO - Political Psychology
JF - Political Psychology
IS - 4
ER -
