Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
School of Psychology, University of Kent, UK.
Br J Soc Psychol. 2022 Apr;61(2):532-549. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12494. Epub 2021 Aug 31.
The present research empirically examines how different types of coping strategies are associated with belief in conspiracy theories. Conspiracy beliefs have been linked to the frustration of basic needs and seem to increase during major world events that evoke stress. Thus, we hypothesized that they may serve as a psychological response to maladaptive coping strategies. This hypothesis was tested among British participants and conceptually replicated across three studies. Cross-sectionally, we examined coping strategies (i.e., self-sufficient, social-support, avoidance, and religious) and belief in a specific conspiracy theory (Study 1, n = 199) and belief in general notions of conspiracy (Study 2, n = 411). In Study 3 (n = 398), we experimentally primed different coping styles via a mnemonic recollection procedure and measured belief in notions of conspiracy. Avoidance coping (recognized as being maladaptive and leading to at least temporary disengagement and abandonment of goal-related behaviours) positively predicted belief in conspiracy theories (Studies 1 and 2). In Study 3, priming avoidance coping (vs. self-sufficient coping or no coping strategy) significantly increased belief in conspiracy theories. These findings suggest that using maladaptive coping strategies (either dispositional or situationally induced) may foster conspiracy beliefs.
本研究实证考察了不同类型的应对策略如何与阴谋论信仰相关联。阴谋论信仰与基本需求的受挫有关，似乎在引发压力的重大世界事件中增加。因此，我们假设它们可能是对适应不良应对策略的心理反应。这一假设在英国参与者中进行了测试，并在三个研究中进行了概念复制。在横断研究中，我们考察了应对策略（即自给自足、社会支持、回避和宗教）和对特定阴谋论的信仰（研究 1，n=199）以及对一般阴谋论的信仰（研究 2，n=411）。在研究 3（n=398）中，我们通过记忆联想程序实验性地启动不同的应对方式，并测量对阴谋观念的信仰。回避应对（被认为是适应不良的，会导致至少暂时脱离和放弃与目标相关的行为）正向预测对阴谋论的信仰（研究 1 和 2）。在研究 3 中，启动回避应对（与自给自足应对或无应对策略相比）显著增加了对阴谋论的信仰。这些发现表明，使用适应不良的应对策略（无论是特质性的还是情境性诱发的）可能会助长阴谋论信仰。
