Individuals who have endured significant hardships throughout their lives may be more inclined to believe conspiracy theories, according to a recent study. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Nottingham and the University of Cumbria, indicates that it is not merely experiencing adversity, but rather how those experiences shape one's perception of the world, that influences susceptibility.
The study involved three experiments with over 1,200 participants. In the first experiment, participants reported on life adversities such as serious illness, bereavement, financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns, and violence, alongside their proclivity for conspiracy thinking. The findings revealed a correlation: those who had faced more adverse life events were more likely to view the world as unjust, and this perception was linked to stronger beliefs in conspiracy theories.
Further experiments explored this connection. One experiment compared individuals who had experienced violent crime with those who had not, again finding that victims reported stronger perceptions of injustice, which in turn were associated with a greater tendency towards conspiracy beliefs. A third experiment involved manipulating participants' perceptions of societal fairness. When led to believe society was becoming more unfair, participants subsequently reported stronger conspiracy beliefs.
Lead author Dr. Daniel Jolley explained that while many people experience adversity, most do not adopt conspiracy theories. "Our findings suggest it isn't hardship alone that matters, but how those experiences shape the way people see the world," he stated. "When adversity leads people to feel that the world is fundamentally unfair, conspiracy theories may become more appealing because they offer an explanation for that injustice."
Co-author Dr. Laura Blackie noted that clinical psychologists have long observed the impact of trauma on worldviews. "Our findings suggest that perceptions of unfairness in society might be one such detrimental outcome to result from adversity, and these perceptions may have consequences for the receptivity of conspiracy beliefs and trust in societal institutions," she said. The researchers cautioned that while their findings do not establish direct causality, they highlight a significant pathway through which adversity can shape an individual's view of society and their susceptibility to alternative explanations for perceived injustices.
Previous research has also linked conspiracy belief with certain psychological traits. A 2015 study from the University of Kent, published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, found links between believing in conspiracy theories and lower self-esteem, as well as narcissistic tendencies. That study surveyed participants on their conspiracy beliefs and administered personality assessments, indicating that individuals scoring higher on narcissism scales and lower on self-esteem were more likely to endorse conspiracy theories.