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. 2017 Jan-Feb;31(1):50-58.
doi: 10.1002/acp.3301. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

Why Education Predicts Decreased Belief in Conspiracy Theories

Jan-Willem van Prooijen  1
Affiliations

Why Education Predicts Decreased Belief in Conspiracy Theories

Jan-Willem van Prooijen. Appl Cogn Psychol. 2017 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

People with high education are less likely than people with low education to believe in conspiracy theories. It is yet unclear why these effects occur, however, as education predicts a range of cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes. The present research sought to identify mediators of the relationship between education and conspiracy beliefs. Results of Study 1 revealed three independent mediators of this relationship, namely, belief in simple solutions for complex problems, feelings of powerlessness, and subjective social class. A nationally representative sample (Study 2) replicated these findings except for subjective social class. Moreover, variations in analytic thinking statistically accounted for the path through belief in simple solutions. I conclude that the relationship between education and conspiracy beliefs cannot be reduced to a single mechanism but is the result of the complex interplay of multiple psychological factors that are associated with education. © 2016 The Authors. Applied Cognitive Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mediation model Study 1. Indirect effects through powerlessness, subjective social class, and belief in simple solutions were significant (ps < .05). Values outside of brackets are Bs, values inside brackets are SEs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mediation model Study 2. Indirect effects through feelings of control and belief in simple solutions were significant (ps < .05), dashed line is nonsignificant (p = .11). Values outside of brackets are Bs, values inside brackets are SEs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Serial mediation model Study 2. All regression lines in the model are significant (ps < .001).
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