Beliefs in conspiracies

This study used canonical correlation to examine the relationship of 11 ind ividual difference variables to two measures of beliefs in conspiracies. Un dergraduates were administered a questionnaire that included these two meas ures (beliefs in specific conspiracies and attitudes toward the existence o f conspiracies) and scales assessing the II variables. High levels of anomi e, authoritarianism and powerlessness, along with a low level of self-estee m, were related to beliefs in specific conspiracies, whereas high levels of external locus of control and hostility, along with a low level of trust, were related to attitudes toward the existence of conspiracies in general. These findings support the idea, that beliefs in conspiracies are related t o feelings of alienation, powerlessness, hostility, and being disadvantaged . There was no support for the idea that people believe in conspiracies bec ause they provide simplified explanations of complex events.