Conspiracy Beliefs as Coping Behavior

Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs

Helen M. Hendy (Author) , Pamela Black (Author)

Conspiracy Beliefs as Coping Behavior

Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs

Helen M. Hendy (Author) , Pamela Black (Author)

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Description

This book provides new answers to who and psychologically why individuals sometimes adopt conspiracy beliefs and thoughts of violence. Five conspiracy beliefs are considered: Government Malfeasance, Malevolent World Power, Extra-terrestrial Cover-up, Personal Well-being Threat, and Control of Information. Using a survey of 977 US citizens, the book compares thirteen possible demographic characteristics (who?) to see which ones are most associated with extreme beliefs. The book then evaluates a three-step psychological sequence (why?) in which individuals experiencing intense life stressors (health, money, or loneliness), combined with powerlessness (displayed as PTSD symptoms), have increased risk for extreme beliefs, perhaps because they offer a sense of understanding, strength, and community.

Contents

List of Tables and Figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part 1. Foundations
Chapter 1. Theoretical Perspectives on Conspiracy Theory Ideation
Chapter 2. Past Research on WHO? and WHY? People Adopt Conspiracy Beliefs

Part 2. Conspiracy Theories Past and Present
Chapter 3. Conspiracy Theories in an Historical Context
Chapter 4. Contemporary Conspiracy Theories
Chapter 5. The Present Study

Part 3. Research Methodology
Chapter 6. Study Participants
Chapter 7. Survey Procedures
Chapter 8. Measurement of Study Variables

Part 4. Data Analysis and Results
Chapter 9. Demographics and Three Life Stressors
Chapter 10. Demographics and PTSD (Powerlessness)
Chapter 11. Demographics and Extreme Beliefs
Chapter 12. Life Stressors and PTSD (Powerlessness)
Chapter 13. Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs
Chapter 14. Five Conspiracy Beliefs and Violent Ideation
Chapter 15. Does PTSD Mediate between Life Stressors and Extreme Beliefs?
Chapter 16. Do Demographics Moderate the Three-Variable Mediations?

Part 5. Summary and Conclusions
Chapter 17. Summary of Study Results
Chapter 18. Interpretation and Application of Study Results
Chapter 19. Study Limitations and Directions for Future Research

References
About the Authors

Product details

Published	01 Nov 2022
Format	Hardback
Edition	1st
Extent	190
ISBN	9781666904031
Imprint	Lexington Books
Illustrations	25 b/w illustrations; 12 tables
Dimensions	237 x 161 mm
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Helen M. Hendy

Author

Pamela Black

Since the January 6, 2021 storming of the US capital by insurrectionists who believed the rigged-election conspiracy theory, it has become evident that conspiracism has risen from the margins of culture to the highest levels of society. Understanding why people believe conspiracy theories is now one of the most important problems to solve in social science, and in their new book, Helen M. Hendy and Pamela Black offer new research to explain who tends to adopt extreme beliefs and the psychological reasons why they do so. This important work is a must read for anyone interested in this existential threat to our democracy.

Michael Shermer, Publisher Skeptic magazine, Presidential Fellow Chapman University
Conspiracy Beliefs as Coping Behavior: Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs by Helen M. Hendy and Pamela Black is a must read for any scholar of conspiracy theories, misinformation, and fake news. The authors cover new ground by linking understudied psychological traits and experiences to extreme beliefs and violence; I strongly recommend for anyone concerned about our current state of political rancor.

Joseph E. Uscinski, University of Miami