Why Education Predicts Decreased Belief in Conspiracy Theories

Summary People with high education are less likely than people with low education to believe in conspiracy theories. It is yet unclear why these effects occur, however, as education predicts a range of cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes. The present research sought to identify mediators of th...

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Published in:Applied cognitive psychology Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 50 - 58
Main Author: Prooijen, Jan‐Willem
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2017
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subjects:
Alienation
Applied psychology
Beliefs
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Cognitive psychology
Conspiracy
Education
Educational attainment
Psychological aspects
Psychology
Social classes
Social problems
Subjectivity
ISSN:0888-4080, 1099-0720
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Summary People with high education are less likely than people with low education to believe in conspiracy theories. It is yet unclear why these effects occur, however, as education predicts a range of cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes. The present research sought to identify mediators of the relationship between education and conspiracy beliefs. Results of Study 1 revealed three independent mediators of this relationship, namely, belief in simple solutions for complex problems, feelings of powerlessness, and subjective social class. A nationally representative sample (Study 2) replicated these findings except for subjective social class. Moreover, variations in analytic thinking statistically accounted for the path through belief in simple solutions. I conclude that the relationship between education and conspiracy beliefs cannot be reduced to a single mechanism but is the result of the complex interplay of multiple psychological factors that are associated with education. © 2016 The Authors. Applied Cognitive Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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ISSN:0888-4080
1099-0720
DOI:10.1002/acp.3301