We believe in your conspiracy if we distrust you: the role of intergroup distrust in structuring the effect of Islamic identification, competitive victimhood, and group incompatibility on belief in a conspiracy theory

Abstract

Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1838990214000118How to cite this article: Ali Mashuri and Esti Zaduqisti (2014). We believe in your conspiracy if we distrust you: the role of intergroup distrust in structuring the effect of Islamic identication, competitive victimhood, and group incompatibility on belief in a conspiracy This study examined how distrust towards an out-group believed to be an actor of a conspiracy theory moderates the role of Islamic identification, group incompatibility and competitive victimhood in explaining belief in said conspiracy. The contextual background we used to verify this idea is the belief in a conspiracy theory among Indonesian Muslims about the involvement of Western countries behind terrorism in Indonesia. More precisely, we found only among Muslim participants with high distrust towards Western people that Islamic identification and group incompatibility positively predicted the perception that Muslims, more than other religious groups, are the victim of the Western people and the belief in a theory that these people have conspired to create terrorism in Indonesia. We also hypothesized and found that competitive victimhood significantly mediated the effects of Islamic identification and group incompatibility on the belief in a conspiracy theory. However, in line with the prediction, these mediation roles of victimhood were obtained only among participants with high distrust. We discussed these findings with reference to theoretical and practical implications.

You are the real terrorist and we are just your puppet: Using individual and group factors to explain Indonesian muslims’ attributions of causes of terrorism

“…However, we contend that Muslims are prone to categorize radical Islamists as their ingroup whereas the West as outgroup, despite the fact that they are very moderate and hence lowly identify with radical Islamists. The reason is that Muslims, more specifically Muslims in Indonesia, regardless of their religious orientations, are vulnerable to malevolent conspiracy theories portraying that the West is suspected of engineering and masterminding domestic or even international terrorism ( Bowen, 2007 ; Jones, 2002 , 2009 ; Mashuri & Zaduqisti, 2014a , 2014b ; Perlez, 2002 ; Smith, 2005 ). This type of negative thinking in part stems from an array of perceived deprivations such as injustice, defeat, and powerlessness Muslims subjectively experience in their relations with the West ( Suciu, 2008 ).…”

“…Indonesian authorities have made much effort to crack down on terrorist groups by detaining and even killing some members and suspected members of these groups, as well as disseminating information that these radical groups are the real perpetrators of the terrorism ( Perdani & Parlina, 2014 ). However, it is believed that much of the Indonesian public has disregarded such official reports and even otherwise externalizes the problem by blaming the West as having created terrorism in Indonesia ( Jones, 2009 ; Mashuri & Zaduqisti, 2014a , 2014b ). The West in this discourse is believed to be the real terrorists whereas Indonesian radical Islamists are just their puppets ( Hilmy, 2010 ).…”

Understanding Conspiracy Theories

“…A conviction that others conspire against one’s group is more likely to emerge when the group thinks of itself as undervalued, underprivileged, or under threat (Uscinski & Parent, ). For example, research by Mashuri and Zaduqisti () demonstrated that beliefs that Western people have victimized Muslims were associated with belief in conspiracy theories suggesting that Western intelligence services instigated terrorism in Indonesia. Bilewicz, Winiewski, Kofta, and Wojcik () showed similar findings in a Polish sample with respect to conspiracy theories about Jews.…”

“…Situational threats and crisis situations can also increase the likelihood of strong group attachment to foster conspiracy beliefs (Kofta, Sędek, & Sławuta, ; Mashuri & Zaduqisti, ; van Prooijen & Douglas, ; Thomson et al, 2012). Taken together, findings from research on the role of social identification highlight the fact that feelings of being undermined and threatened in the context of international relations can facilitate the development of conspiracy theories that serve to justify groups’ disadvantaged position (Uscinski & Parent, ).…”

Effects of misinformation diffusion during a pandemic

“… 2013 ; Douglas et al. 2019 ; Goertzel 1994 ; Mashuri and Zaduqisti 2014 ; Miller et al. 2016 ; Parsons et al.…”