Consequences of conspiracy theories

The majority of psychological studies of conspiracy theories have investigated the personality correlates and psychological processes associated with conspiracy belief. There is now increasing concern about the consequences of conspiracy theories, however, and it is these consequences that we turn to in this chapter. A growing body of research suggests that conspiracy theories may have negative consequences in a variety of settings that are vital to the smooth functioning of a society. Specifically, conspiracy theories appear to reduce engagement with the political process, climate change, childhood vaccination and increase people’s intentions to leave their workplace. Conspiracy theories are also associated with increased prejudice and discrimination toward stigmatized groups. Further, conspiracy theories can lead to feelings of powerlessness, uncertainty, anomie, and mistrust. This chapter will provide an overview of the literature to date, discussing both the behavioral and psychological consequences of conspiracy theories. Based on our review, we will argue that developing tools to alleviate the potentially dangerous consequences of conspiracy theories is timely and important.