Douglas, Karen M and Sutton, Robbie M and Callan, Mitchell J and Dawtry, Rael J and Harvey, Annelie J (2016) Someone is pulling the strings: hypersensitive agency detection and belief in conspiracy theories. Thinking and Reasoning, 22 (1). pp. 57-77. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2015.1051586
Douglas, Karen M and Sutton, Robbie M and Callan, Mitchell J and Dawtry, Rael J and Harvey, Annelie J (2016) Someone is pulling the strings: hypersensitive agency detection and belief in conspiracy theories. Thinking and Reasoning, 22 (1). pp. 57-77. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2015.1051586
Douglas, Karen M and Sutton, Robbie M and Callan, Mitchell J and Dawtry, Rael J and Harvey, Annelie J (2016) Someone is pulling the strings: hypersensitive agency detection and belief in conspiracy theories. Thinking and Reasoning, 22 (1). pp. 57-77. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2015.1051586
Abstract
We hypothesised that belief in conspiracy theories would be predicted by the general tendency to attribute agency and intentionality where it is unlikely to exist. We further hypothesised that this tendency would explain the relationship between education level and belief in conspiracy theories, where lower levels of education have been found to be associated with higher conspiracy belief. In Study 1 (N = 202) participants were more likely to agree with a range of conspiracy theories if they also tended to attribute intentionality and agency to inanimate objects. As predicted, this relationship accounted for the link between education level and belief in conspiracy theories. We replicated this finding in Study 2 (N = 330), whilst taking into account beliefs in paranormal phenomena. These results suggest that education may undermine the reasoning processes and assumptions that are reflected in conspiracy belief.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Conspiracy theories, hypersensitive agency detection, intentionality bias, paranormal beliefs, education |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Psychology, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 05 Oct 2015 11:15 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2024 16:19 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/15178 |
Available files
Filename: Douglas%20et%20al%20-%20CTs%20and%20HAD.pdf