Who believes in conspiracy theories, and why are some people more susceptible to them than others? What are the consequences of such beliefs? Has a conspiracy theory ever turned out to be true? The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories debunks the myth that conspiracy theories are a modern phenomenon, exploring their broad social contexts, from politics to the workplace. The book explains why some people are more susceptible to these beliefs than others and how they are produced by recognizable and predictable psychological processes. Updated throughout and now featuring examples from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Capitol Hill riots, this new edition of The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories shows us that while such beliefs are not always irrational and are not a pathological trait, they can be harmful to individuals and society.
Jan-Willem van Prooijen is Associate Professor of Social Psychology at VU Amsterdam, senior researcher at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, and Endowed Professor of Radicalization, Extremism, and Conspiracy Thinking at Maastricht University.
Preface to the second editionChapter 1 – The Psychology of Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 2 – Existential Threats and Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 3 – Inside the Conspiracy Theorist’s MindChapter 4 – The Social Roots of Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 5 – Conspiracy Theories and RadicalismChapter 6 – Explaining and Reducing Conspiracy Theories in a Modern WorldFurther ReadingReferences
Wolfgang Wagner, Linet R. Durmusoglu, Barbora Holá, Ronald Kroeze, Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Wouter G. Werner, Amsterdam) Wagner, Wolfgang (Professor of International Security, Professor of International Security, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research) Durmusoglu, Linet R. (PhD candidate, PhD candidate, The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement) Hola, Barbora (Senior Researcher, Senior Researcher, Nijmegen) Kroeze, Ronald (Director of the Centre for Parliamentary History, Director of the Centre for Parliamentary History, Radboud University, Amsterdam) van Prooijen, Jan-Willem (Associate Professor of Psychology, Associate Professor of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Werner, Wouter G. (Professor of International Law, Professor of International Law, Vrije Universiteit, Linet R Durmusoglu, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Wouter G Werner
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Amsterdam) Prooijen, Jan-Willem van (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Lange, Paul A. M. van (Vrije Universiteit, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul A. M. Van Lange
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Jan-Willem van (VU University Amsterdam) Prooijen, Paul A. M. van (VU University Amsterdam) Lange, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul A. M. Van Lange
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Jan-Willem van (VU University Amsterdam) Prooijen, Paul A. M. van (VU University Amsterdam) Lange, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul a. M. Van Lange, Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul a M van Lange
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Amsterdam) Prooijen, Jan-Willem van (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Lange, Paul A. M. van (Vrije Universiteit, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul A. M. Van Lange
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Amsterdam) Prooijen, Jan-Willem van (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Lange, Paul A. M. van (Vrije Universiteit, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul A. M. Van Lange
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Jan-Willem van (VU University Amsterdam) Prooijen, Paul A. M. van (VU University Amsterdam) Lange, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul a. M. Van Lange, Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul a M van Lange
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Paul A. M. van Lange, Amsterdam) Prooijen, Jan-Willem van (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Lange, Paul A. M. van (Vrije Universiteit, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Paul A. M. Van Lange
Wolfgang Wagner, Linet R. Durmusoglu, Barbora Holá, Ronald Kroeze, Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Wouter G. Werner, Amsterdam) Wagner, Wolfgang (Professor of International Security, Professor of International Security, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research) Durmusoglu, Linet R. (PhD candidate, PhD candidate, The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement) Hola, Barbora (Senior Researcher, Senior Researcher, Nijmegen) Kroeze, Ronald (Director of the Centre for Parliamentary History, Director of the Centre for Parliamentary History, Radboud University, Amsterdam) van Prooijen, Jan-Willem (Associate Professor of Psychology, Associate Professor of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Werner, Wouter G. (Professor of International Law, Professor of International Law, Vrije Universiteit, Linet R Durmusoglu, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen, Wouter G Werner