Although sometimes used interchangeably, the present review highlights the important differences between generalized worldviews suspecting conspiracy at play (conspiracy mentality) and specific beliefs about the existence of a certain conspiracy (conspiracy theory). In contrast to measures of beliefs in specific conspiracy theories, those of conspiracy mentality are more stable, less malleable, less skewed in their distribution and less contaminated by other ideological content. These differences have important implications for empirical research and the theorizing of conspiracy beliefs. Building on an analogy of personality traits, we argue that conspiracy mentality is a relatively stable readiness to interpret world events as being caused by plots hatched in secret, whereas specific conspiracy beliefs are then manifest indicators (partially contaminated by other dispositions).

尽管有时可以互换使用，但本综述强调了怀疑阴谋论的广义世界观（阴谋论）和关于某个阴谋存在的具体信念（阴谋论）之间的重要区别。与特定阴谋论的信念测量相比，阴谋心态的测量更稳定，更不易延展，分布更不倾斜，受其他意识形态内容的污染更小。这些差异对实证研究和阴谋信念的理论化具有重要意义。基于人格特征的类比，我们认为阴谋心态是一种相对稳定的准备，可以将世界事件解释为由秘密孵化的情节引起，