Review
Belief in conspiracy theories and non-normative behavior

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101394Get rights and content

Highlights

  • • Believing in conspiracy theories is related to non-normative behaviors.

  • • This non-normative behavior is a natural consequence of a different social reality.

  • • This social reality is characterized by distrust and a different perception of norms.

  • • Taking into account the social reality of conspiracy beliefs can improve interventions.

Abstract

There are many examples of people believing in conspiracy theories showing non-normative behaviors. But why is this the case? The current contribution proposes that the non-normative behavior of people believing in conspiracy theories is a natural consequence of a different social reality that is associated with the belief in conspiracy theories. This social reality is characterized by a tendency for distinction and distrust in social relationships, a different perception of descriptive norms, a questioning of the injunctive norms regarding specific behaviors, lower trust in institutions and traditional authorities, as well as alternative norms among people believing in conspiracy theories.

Section snippets

Tendency for distinction and distrust

Believing in conspiracy theories is related to different variables that can be summarized by a tendency for distinction and distrust. With regards to distinction, believing in conspiracy theories is related to a higher need for uniqueness, individual narcissism, reactance, as well as collective narcissism [21,22], all reflecting a desire to distinguish oneself from other individuals and groups. As for distrust, believing in conspiracy theories is related to general distrust [23, 24, 25],

Different perceptions of descriptive norms

A higher conspiracy belief also appears to be connected to a perception of lower descriptive norms for behaviors otherwise shown by the majority of the society. In other words, the more individuals believe in conspiracy theories, the lower they estimate the percentage of other people following social norms, such as holding the door for someone who has a lot to carry [30]. Similarly, the more individuals believe in vaccination conspiracy theories, the lower they estimate the vaccination

Questioning the injunctive norm regarding specific behaviors

People believing in conspiracy theories allege that the explanations for respective events are different than the ones communicated by official sources. As such, they sometimes also question injunctive norms connected to this explanation. For example, by claiming that COVID-19 is a hoax, people believing in such conspiracy theories questioned the injunctive norm that one should try to reduce contact and wear masks in public places, resulting in own reduced containment-related behavior—a

Lower trust in institutions and traditional authorities

By claiming a different factual reality, conspiracy theories also cast doubt on institutions and traditional authorities. This can happen directly by accusing scientists and official institutions of malfeasance, such as in the case of conspiracy theories that COVID-19 is a hoax, or very subtle by offering an alternative explanation for events while claiming that all other explanations are wrong. This way, conspiracy theories cast doubts on the present organization of society [28] and the

Alternative norms among people believing in conspiracy theories

Non-normative behavior has two aspects: One is a decreased display of behaviors reflecting the existing social norm, and the other one is an increased display of behaviors disregarded by the majority. Just as in other groups, there is the emergence of new norms among people believing in conspiracy theories which become part of the social reality of people believing in conspiracy theories. These new norms often develop around popular figures [45,46] and in distinction to the alleged outgroup [47,

Conclusion

A belief in conspiracy theories is not only a belief in a different factual reality, but it is accompanied by and results in a different social reality. This social reality is characterized by a tendency for distinction and distrust in social relationships, a different perception of descriptive norms, the questioning of injunctive norms regarding specific behaviors targeted by conspiracy theories, lower trust in institutions and traditional authorities, as well as new norms among people

Conflict of interest statement

Nothing declared.

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