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talkpoliticsWe often discuss issues related to fake news and conspiracy theories in this group, and for good reason. They are very important for the development of appropriate public policy, and especially so in a democratic system. Late last year the following article was published which is worthwhile reading:
Belief in conspiracy theories: The predictive role of schizotypy, Machiavellianism, and primary psychopathy (Dec 3, 2019)
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0225964
Some things I like about this study on an initial level:
* It looks at something that is a critical issue in our society today, i.e., the propensity for "fake news" to circulate where media sources are treated as equivalents.
* Testing against multiple personality traits to determine if there are correlations between belief in conspiracy theories and other personality traits. Use of regression analysis to determine the accuracy of those traits (e.g., corroborating previous research for Machiavellianism), thus removing spurious correlations which were indicated in previous research (e.g., trait narcissism).
* Identification of the traits with positive predictors, which suggests means of identifying conspiracy theorists as a type, but also ways of approaching such encounters (the desire for avoidance is quite strong, I admit)
Belief in conspiracy theories: The predictive role of schizotypy, Machiavellianism, and primary psychopathy (Dec 3, 2019)
"The total regression model indicated odd beliefs/magical thinking, trait Machiavellianism, and primary psychopathy were significant, positive predictors of belief in conspiracy theories. No other predictors reached significance. Results of the current study highlight individuals who might be more susceptible to believing conspiracy theories. Specifically, these results indicate that the individual more likely to believe in conspiracy theories may have unusual patterns of thinking and cognitions, be strategic and manipulative, and display interpersonal and affective deficits."
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0225964
Some things I like about this study on an initial level:
* It looks at something that is a critical issue in our society today, i.e., the propensity for "fake news" to circulate where media sources are treated as equivalents.
* Testing against multiple personality traits to determine if there are correlations between belief in conspiracy theories and other personality traits. Use of regression analysis to determine the accuracy of those traits (e.g., corroborating previous research for Machiavellianism), thus removing spurious correlations which were indicated in previous research (e.g., trait narcissism).
* Identification of the traits with positive predictors, which suggests means of identifying conspiracy theorists as a type, but also ways of approaching such encounters (the desire for avoidance is quite strong, I admit)
