Paranoid beliefs and conspiracy mentality are associated with different forms of mistrust: A three-nation study

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Anton P. Martinez¹  Mark Shevlin²  Carmen Valiente³  Philip Hyland⁴  Richard P. Bentall¹ 

[1] Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield;School of Psychology, Ulster University;Department of Personality Assessment and Clinical Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid;Department of Psychology, Maynooth University

关键词: Paranoid Beliefs;    conspiracy mentality;    Institutional trust;    trustworthiness;    interpersonal trust.;    trust in sources;    Multi-nation study;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1023366

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Paranoia and conspiracy are terms typically used interchangeably. However, although the underlying content of these types of beliefs might be similar (e.g., seeing others as powerful and threatening), recent research suggests that these constructs differ in important ways. One important feature shared by both constructs is excessive mistrust but this aspect might play different roles in each belief system. In this study we explored the strength of associations of different trust predictors (i.e., trust in institutions, trust in sources of information, perceptual trust, and interpersonal trust) between conspiracy mentality and paranoid beliefs. We tested this association in a large representative multinational sample (UK n=2025; Spain n= 1951; and Ireland n= 1041). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model of conspiracy and paranoid beliefs in each nation sample. Path and equality of constraints analysis revealed that paranoia was more strongly associated with perceptual mistrust (bias towards mistrusting unfamiliar faces) whereas conspiracy was more strongly associated with mistrust in political institutions. Although interpersonal mistrust and trust in social sources of information were associated significantly with conspiracy their association with paranoid beliefs was stronger. These findings clarify the role of different trust processes in both belief systems. Limitations of this study are discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY