Conspiracy Theories

Joseph E. Uscinski is associate professor of political science at University of Miami. He is editor of Conspiracy Theories and the People Who Believe Them (forthcoming), coauthor of American Conspiracy Theories (2014) and author of The People’s News: Media, Politics, and the Demands of Capitalism (2014). Adam Enders is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville. His research focuses on the role of suspicion and conspiratorial thinking in American mass politics, the influence of core values on political identities and attitudes, and the evolving nature of mass polarization.

Chapter 1 Why Study Conspiracy Theories?

Why Are Conspiracy Theories Important?

Kennedy Assassination and Other Conspiracy Theories

Why Are Conspiracy Theories Important?

The Popular Misconceptions

Conspiracy theories are more popular now

Conspiracy Theories are Extreme

Conspiracy Theories are for the Mentally Ill

Conservatives Believe More Conspiracy Theories than Liberals

Conspiracy Theories are More Popular in the US (or in some other place)

Plan of the Book

Chapter 2 What is a Conspiracy Theory?

Defining Our Terms

Conspiracy

Conspiracy Theory

Falsifiability

Other Standards for Evaluating Conspiracy Theories

The Diversity of Conspiracy Theories

The Conspirators

The Number of Conspirators

When Do People Conspire?

The Methods

The Goals

Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

Conspiracy Thinking

Conspiracy Theorist

The Post-Truth World?

Anomalous Beliefs

Conclusion

Chapter 3 The Popularity of Conspiracy and Anomalous Beliefs

Measurement

Conspiracy Theories and Poll Numbers

Immigration Conspiracy Theories

Government Malfeasance

Extraterrestrial Cover-up

Malevolent Global Conspiracies

Personal Well-being

Control of Information

Anomalistic Beliefs

Conclusion

Chapter 4 The Psychology and Sociology of Conspiracy Theories

Psychological Factors

Cognitive Traits

Personality Traits

Psychological Conditions

Criticisms of the Psychological Approach

Sociological Factors

Conclusion

Chapter 5 The Politics of Conspiracy Theories

Power and Conspiracy Theories

The Locus of Power

Partisan Conspiracy Theorizing

Opinion Formation

The Hypodermic Needle Theory

The Minimal Effects Model

Partisanship and Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

Symmetry

The Interaction between Partisanship and Conspiracy Thinking

Conspiracy Theories Are for Losers

Conclusion

Chapter 6 Donald Trump and the Elections of 2016 and 2020

Donald Trump Runs for President

Anti-Establishment Orientations

Trump-Russia Conspiracy Theories

Consequences of Conspiracy Theory Politics

Conclusion

Chapter 7 QAnon, COVID-19, Social Media, and The Era of “Post-truth”QAnon

COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

Other Conspiracy Theory Beliefs Over Time

Online Exposure to Conspiracy Theories

Does Online Exposure Spread Conspiracy Theories?

The Effect of Conspiracy Theory Beliefs on Deleterious Actions

A New Satanic Panic

Curtailing the Spread and Effects of Conspiracy Theories

Conclusions

Appendix