How social identity shapes conspiratorial belief

Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Oct:47:101423. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101423. Epub 2022 Jul 15.

Abstract

While conspiracy theories may offer benefits to those who believe in them, they can also foster intergroup conflict, threaten democracy, and undercut public health. We argue that the motivations behind conspiracy theory belief are often related to social identity. Conspiracy theories are well-positioned to fulfill social identity needs such as belongingness goals, the need to think highly of one's in-group, and the need to feel secure in one's group status. Understanding the social motives that attract people to conspiracy theories should be a focus of future research, and may be key to creating more successful interventions to reduce socially harmful conspiracy theories.

Keywords: Conspiracy theories; Misinformation; Social identity.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Public Health*
  • Social Identification*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires