Across three studies, we examined the role of self-evaluation in predicting conspiracy beliefs. Previous research linked the endorsement of conspiracy theories to low self-esteem. We propose that conspiracy theories should rather be appealing to individuals with exaggerated feelings of self-love, such as narcissists, due to their paranoid tendencies. In Study 1, general conspiracist beliefs were predicted by high individual narcissism but low self-esteem. Study 2 demonstrated that these effects were differentially mediated by paranoid thoughts, and independent of the effects of collective narcissism. Individual narcissism predicted generalized conspiracist beliefs, regardless of the conspiracy theories implicating in-group or out-group members, while collective narcissism predicted belief in out-group but not in-group conspiracies. Study 3 replicated the effects of individual narcissism and self-esteem on the endorsement of various specific conspiracy theories and demonstrated that the negative effect of self-esteem was largely accounted for by the general negativity toward humans associated with low self-esteem.
Interesting. I have noticed that some people don’t just fall for conspiracies, they actively seek them out and doggedly believe in them regardless of any contradictory facts or evidence. I’d never considered that tendency as a result of mental disorders before, but it makes sense.
As for Q...I looked at one of his musings and found it nonsensical. Maybe he throws in random words connected to current events, but that doesn’t make him some sort of prophet. I consider him a modern equivalent to Nostradamus—be nonsensical enough, and people will read all kinds of stuff into it. Whatever amuses people, I guess.