Believing the world is unfair may explain why some who experience adversity are drawn to conspiracy theories

Experiencing personal hardships does not immediately lead individuals to embrace conspiracy theories, but it can alter their perception of the world's fairness, making conspiratorial ideas more enticing. A recent series of studies published in the British Journal of Psychology reveals that feelings of injustice stemming from personal adversity may serve as a catalyst for the development of conspiracy mentality.

Conspiracy mentality refers to the belief that significant global or societal events are orchestrated by hidden, malicious plots by powerful groups, often leading to endorsement of specific conspiracy theories. The real-world implications of these beliefs can be substantial, influencing decisions on matters such as vaccine acceptance and climate action.

While previous research has primarily focused on the impact of collective trauma on conspiracy beliefs, this study delves into the role of individual hardships, such as serious illnesses, financial ruin, or physical accidents. These isolated personal traumas can result in a diminished sense of self-worth and a diminished belief in the goodness of others, potentially increasing susceptibility to conspiracy theories.

The research team, comprising Daniel Jolley and Laura Blackie, both psychology professors at the University of Nottingham, aimed to investigate the connection between personal adversity and the adoption of conspiracy beliefs. They hypothesized that experiencing personal hardships could disrupt individuals' belief in a fair world, prompting them to seek alternative explanations for their suffering.

"Our interest was in understanding the journey from experiencing adversity to potentially developing conspiracy beliefs," explained Jolley. "We wanted to explore whether these difficult life experiences might change how people perceive the world, and if this could explain why some are more drawn to conspiracy theories." To test their hypothesis, the researchers conducted three separate studies.

The first study involved 275 participants who completed surveys assessing their lifetime adversity, recent economic hardships, and perceptions of injustice and conspiracy mentality. The study found no direct correlation between cumulative lifetime adversity and conspiracy mentality. However, it did uncover a direct link between recent economic hardship and the development of conspiracy thinking.

Crucially, both types of hardship were positively linked to stronger beliefs in the world's unfairness, which in turn correlated with higher conspiracy mentality scores. Jolley emphasized that the majority of individuals who face hardships do not automatically adopt conspiratorial thinking. "Our findings suggest that perceptions of injustice are a crucial component in this relationship," he stated.

"It's not just what happens to people, but how those experiences shape their worldview that matters." The second study focused on the impact of violent crime as a form of personal adversity. Researchers compared 232 individuals who had been victims of violent crime to 226 who had never been victims, ensuring the sample consisted of cisgender, heterosexual, White, employed residents of the United Kingdom.

While victims did not exhibit higher conspiracy mentality scores compared to non-victims, they reported significantly higher perceptions of injustice. The researchers found an indirect relationship, where victimization predicted increased feelings of injustice, which in turn predicted stronger conspiracy mentality. Even after controlling for demographic factors, this indirect link persisted.

In the third study, the researchers sought to experimentally manipulate feelings of injustice. They recruited 538 employed adults from the United Kingdom and had them read either a mock news article claiming British society was becoming more fair or one claiming it was becoming more unfair. Subsequently, participants reported their perceptions of injustice and conspiracy mentality.

These findings suggest that while personal adversity does not directly lead to conspiracy beliefs, it can alter one's perception of fairness, potentially making conspiracy theories more appealing and highlighting the importance of understanding this psychological pathway to address the complex relationship between adversity and conspiracy mentality.