Investigating the Links Between Cultural Values and Belief in Conspiracy Theories: the Key Roles of Collectivism and Masculinity.

Abstract

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 shaping CT beliefs.

Individual, intergroup and nation-level influences on belief in conspiracy theories

“…In two cross-national datasets, participants rated their agreement with globally recognized conspiracy theories (for example, that the Moon landing was faked or that 9/11 was an inside job) 139,140 . Three other datasets [141][142][143] used measures that assess an overall conspiracist mindset or worldview but do not make reference to any single conspiracy theory (for example "events which superficially seem to lack a connection are often the result of secret activities" 98 or "I think that the official version of the events given by the authorities very often hides the truth") 144 .…”

“…Similarly, individual perceptions of economic inequality within a nation are robustly associated with conspiracy beliefs 147 , but the pattern is not reliably observed when objective levels of inequality (such as the GINI coefficient 143 ) are used. Finally, people with stronger collectivist (versus individualist) orientations have higher conspiracy beliefs 10,141 . There is some evidence that this pattern replicates at the national level: in most (but not all) cross-national datasets conspiracy belief is higher in collectivist (versus individualist) countries 145 .…”

“…However, the mechanism underlying these results remains unclear. One possibility is that those with a collectivist orientation are more likely to provide relational explanations for random events and to rely on unofficial sources of information as proxies for reality 10,141 , but this explanation remains to be tested in relation to conspiracy theories.…”