Conspiracy Beliefs as Coping Behavior

Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs

Helen M. Hendy, Pamela Black (Autoren)

Buch | Softcover

190 Seiten

2024
Lexington Books/Fortress Academic (Verlag)
978-1-6669-0405-5 (ISBN)

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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.

Helen M. Hendy is professor emeritus of psychology at Penn State Schuylkill. Pamela Black is professor of criminal justice at Penn State Hazelton and the Discipline Coordinator for Social Sciences and Education in the University College.

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

Erscheinungsdatum	02.04.2024
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 228 mm
Gewicht	268 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Sozialpsychologie
Themenwelt	Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie ► Empirische Sozialforschung
ISBN-10	1-6669-0405-8 / 1666904058
ISBN-13	978-1-6669-0405-5 / 9781666904055
Zustand	Neuware