“It’s a Conspiracy!” Self-Reported Conspiracy Theory Beliefs, Dichotomous Thinking, and Political Extremism Following Ostracism
Abstract
The current American society is a tumultuous environment, often contributing to a reciprocal relationship with conspiracy theories and political extremism. Exploring possible connections to further understanding, we found prior research indicates that ostracism leads to greater conspiracy theory beliefs and openness to joining extreme groups. Similarly, research has found links between political extremism, conspiracy theory beliefs, and dichotomous thinking. This project, therefore, investigates whether ostracism predicts greater self-reported beliefs in conspiracy theories, dichotomous thinking, and political extremism, in which we hypothesize it will. In Study One (S1), undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to be ostracized or included, which was simulated using Cyberball. Participants then completed validated measures to assess their fundamental needs (i.e., belonging, self-esteem, control, meaningful existence), negative mood, self-uncertainty, state anxiety, dichotomous thinking, conspiracy theory beliefs and mentality, and political extremism. Results indicate that ostracized participants report greater threats to their fundamental needs (i.e., are feeling more excluded) as well as greater negative mood and self-uncertainty. However, there were no significant differences between groups on our dependent variables. Results are not consistent with current literature or our hypotheses and suggest that ostracism may not predict self-reported conspiracy theory belief/mentality, dichotomous thinking, or political extremism. To further evaluate these results, we have currently implemented Study Two (S2). In contrast, S2 utilized a social media-based ostracism tool (i.e., Ostracism Online), a more in-depth political extremism scale, and additional scales accessing loneliness, rejection sensitivity, paranoia, and emotional childhood trauma. S2 will continue to run throughout the Spring 2025 semester, but we hypothesize the results to indicate significant differences between included and ostracized participants, with ostracism predicting greater self-reported conspiracy theory belief/mentality, dichotomous thinking, and political extremism.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 10:00 AM
Room Number
272
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Research-in-Progress
Presentation Category
Social Sciences
Faculty Mentor
Ginette Blackhart
“It’s a Conspiracy!” Self-Reported Conspiracy Theory Beliefs, Dichotomous Thinking, and Political Extremism Following Ostracism
272
The current American society is a tumultuous environment, often contributing to a reciprocal relationship with conspiracy theories and political extremism. Exploring possible connections to further understanding, we found prior research indicates that ostracism leads to greater conspiracy theory beliefs and openness to joining extreme groups. Similarly, research has found links between political extremism, conspiracy theory beliefs, and dichotomous thinking. This project, therefore, investigates whether ostracism predicts greater self-reported beliefs in conspiracy theories, dichotomous thinking, and political extremism, in which we hypothesize it will. In Study One (S1), undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to be ostracized or included, which was simulated using Cyberball. Participants then completed validated measures to assess their fundamental needs (i.e., belonging, self-esteem, control, meaningful existence), negative mood, self-uncertainty, state anxiety, dichotomous thinking, conspiracy theory beliefs and mentality, and political extremism. Results indicate that ostracized participants report greater threats to their fundamental needs (i.e., are feeling more excluded) as well as greater negative mood and self-uncertainty. However, there were no significant differences between groups on our dependent variables. Results are not consistent with current literature or our hypotheses and suggest that ostracism may not predict self-reported conspiracy theory belief/mentality, dichotomous thinking, or political extremism. To further evaluate these results, we have currently implemented Study Two (S2). In contrast, S2 utilized a social media-based ostracism tool (i.e., Ostracism Online), a more in-depth political extremism scale, and additional scales accessing loneliness, rejection sensitivity, paranoia, and emotional childhood trauma. S2 will continue to run throughout the Spring 2025 semester, but we hypothesize the results to indicate significant differences between included and ostracized participants, with ostracism predicting greater self-reported conspiracy theory belief/mentality, dichotomous thinking, and political extremism.