Journal Article

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

Motyl, Matt, Zimmer, Felix, Mari, Silvia, Prims, J. P., Adam-Troian, Jais, Bangerter, Adrian, Rabelo, André, Milosevic, Jasna, Wagner-Egger, Pascal, Kende, Anna, Turjačanin, Vladimir, Swami, Viren, van Prooijen, Jan-Willem, Bovan, Kosta, Thórisdóttir, Hulda, Gualda, Estrella, Lamberty, Pia, Gjoneska, Biljana, Petkovski, Ljupcho, Imhoff, Roland, Klein, Olivier, Arciszewski, Thomas, Bužarovska, Rumena, Panasiti, Maria Serena, Babinska, Maria, Porciello, Giuseppina, Zezelj, Iris, Krekó, Peter, Pantazi, Myrto, Douglas, Karen M., Dyrendal, Asbjørn, Krouwel, Andre, Schepisi, Michael, Cichocka, Aleksandra, Blanuša, Nebojša, Delouvée, Sylvain, Graf, Sylvie, Hirschberger, Gilad, Bilewicz, Michal, Çelebi, Elif, Sutton, Robbie M.

2021

Overview

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 = 5323; Study 2a, N = 12,255; Study 2b, N = 30,994) revealed positive associations between masculinity, collectivism, and CT beliefs. A crosssectional study among U.S. 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.

• Publisher: Wiley Periodicals,Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Wiley
• Subject: Beliefs / Cognition / Cognitive science / Collectivism / conspiracist beliefs / Conspiracy / Cross-sectional studies / cross‐cultural / Cultural differences / Cultural factors / Cultural values / Culture / Gender roles / Humanities and Social Sciences / Individual differences / Masculinity / Meta-analysis / Psychological mechanisms / Psychological theories / Psychology / Religious beliefs / situated cognition / Systematic review / Variables