Conceptualizing Conspiratorial Thinking

Explicating Public Conspiracism for Effective Debiasing Strategy

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3758187
AutoresJohn Namjun Kim (0000-0002-4254-5784, University of Oklahoma, autor de correspondencia), Seungyoon Lee (0000-0002-4293-9089, Brian Lamb School of Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA)
Año2024
Volumen68
Número10
Páginas1366-1394
Fecha de publicación2024-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00027642231175637
OpenAlexW4381054177
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas18

We use the situational theory of problem solving to explicate how publics engage in conspiratorial thinking as a form of cognitive problem solving. In doing so, we develop a new typology of conspiracy theories and introduce conceptual definitions and operationalizations of conspiratorial thinking as both dispositional and situational. We conduct two survey studies which provide evidence of the measures' reliability and validity. We also investigate the debiasing effects of relational and informational strategies employed by social institutions. Finally, we present institutional behavioral strategies, grounded in the strategic behavioral theory of communication management, that can reduce conspiratorial thinking. Our new concepts and measurement approaches describe the origins and processes of public conspiracism and provide a foundation for implementing ethical and effective interventions, ultimately contributing to a more informed and educated society

Debiasing · Knowledge management · Management science · Psychological intervention · Sensemaking · Situational ethics · Sociology · Typology · Computer Science · Engineering · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology