The thing that makes some people gravitate towards conspiracy theories while others dismiss them? New research published in Personality and individual differences explores how trait anger — a tendency to experience frequent and intense anger — may make individuals more likely to believe in conspiracy theories.
The findings show an interesting relationship between emotions, perceptions of “evil intent” and belief in both mild and extreme conspiracies.
Understanding conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories offer alternative explanations for events, often claiming that powerful groups operate in secret to manipulate outcomes for personal gain, sometimes at the expense of the greater good. Conspiracy theories provide seemingly simple explanations for complex or troubling realities, from belief in government cover-ups to corporate malfeasance.
These theories are not all created equal as some involve relatively benign intentions – such as the claim that the Earth is flat – while others suggest deeply malicious motives, such as staging tragic events for power or profit. But what psychological factors make certain individuals more likely to believe these theories?
The role of anger
Eddie Harmon-Jones and his team sought to uncover how anger affects conspiracy belief; where they divided conspiracy theories into two categories: those involving low evil intent (eg, hiding the truth about extraterrestrial life) and those involving high evil intent (eg, orchestrating a global pandemic for financial gain). Their study examined whether anger enhances belief in conspiracies, regardless of their perceived level of malice.
Key findings
The researchers conducted two online studies with over 275 participants in total, examining their belief in 24 conspiracy theories. For each theory, both low-evil and high-evil versions were presented. Participants also completed questionnaires assessing anger, humility, intellectual humility, life satisfaction and general conspiracy mentality – a tendency to suspect that major events are orchestrated by secret groups. Key findings included-
- Anger drives faith: Participants with higher levels of anger were more likely to believe in both low evil and high evil conspiracy theories.
- High-Gondian theories are more polarizing: While participants found high evil conspiracy theories to be more harmful, they were less likely to believe them compared to low evil versions.
- Demographic differences: Younger individuals and those with lower levels of education were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, especially those involving low levels of evil intent.
Why Anger Matters
Anger is often triggered by perceived injustices or wrongs, emotions that conspiracy theories exploit. Believing that a secret group is causing harm can validate feelings of anger and give vent to it. The study suggested that angry individuals may be particularly receptive to high-evil theories because these stories resonate with their emotional state.
The Complexity of Conspiracy Mentality
Beyond anger, the research identified “conspiracy mentality” as the strongest predictor of belief. This mindset reflects a general tendency to assume hidden agendas behind important events, even without evidence. Interestingly, those who believed in low-evil theories were also more likely to believe in high-evil ones, reinforcing the idea that a general distrust of authority underpins conspiracy thinking.
Takeaway
The study highlights how emotions and perceptions of evil affect belief in conspiracy theories and also highlights the need for further research with larger, more diverse populations to better understand these dynamics. For now, the findings highlight an important takeaway: Addressing conspiracy beliefs may require more than simply exposing false information.
It can be about addressing the underlying emotions – such as anger – and promoting trust in institutions, transparency and critical thinking. As society becomes increasingly polarized and misinformation spreads more easily, understanding what drives belief in conspiracy theories can help foster empathy and constructive dialogue.
Whether you’re skeptical or curious about conspiracies, this research provides valuable insights into how emotions and worldviews shape how we see the truth.
Study reference:
The study, titled “Belief in Conspiracy Theories Differing in Malice: Correlations with Anger and Other Traits”, was conducted by researchers Eddie Harmon-Jones, Kinga Szymaniak, Gabriel Sebban and Cindy Harmon-Jones.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor if you have questions about a medical condition.
