Anxiety, illusory pattern perception and conspiracy beliefs during the Covid-19 pandemic

Spasovski, Ognen (author), Démuthová, Slávka (author), Kuzmanovic, Vesna (author)

This study investigated the relationship between the anxiety provoked by threatening events in society like the Covid-19 pandemic, and illusory pattern perception, with conspiracy beliefs. Using an experimental design, in Study 1 high vs. low anxiety was manipulated, while in Study 2 we manipulated intuitive pattern search, with the findings supporting the assumption that greater anxiety and higher intuitive pattern search lead to an increase in conspiracy beliefs. In order to prevent the detrimental effects of beliefs in conspiracy theories on the individual and societal levels, we recommend transparent information and pre-warning, as well as a focus on critical thinking in education.

• Language: English
• Keywords: societal events, anxiety, intuitive pattern search, illusory pattern perception, conspiracy beliefs, Covid-19 pandemic
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 31.12.2021
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 1133–1149, 1159
• Numbering: Letn. 58, št. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138740
• UDC: 616.89-008.441:159.937.3:616-036.22
• ISSN on article: 0040-3598
• DOI: 10.51936/tip.58.3.1333-1149
• COBISS.SI-ID: 92193027
• Publication date in RUL: 11.08.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Teorija in praksa : revija za družbena vprašanja
• Shortened title: Teor. praksa
• Publisher: Fakulteta za družbene vede
• ISSN: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 763652

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Tesnoba, iluzorno zaznavanje vzorcev in verovanja v zaroto med pandemijo Covid-19

Abstract

V študiji smo raziskali razmerje med tesnobo, ki jo sprožijo nevarni družbeni dogodki, kot je pandemija COVID-19, in iluzornim zaznavanjem vzorca – s teorijami zarote. Z uporabo eksperimenta smo v študiji 1 manipulirali z visoko proti nizki tesnobnosti, medtem ko smo v študiji 2 manipulirali z intuitivnim iskanjem vzorcev. Naše ugotovitve podpirajo domnevo, da višje ravni tesnobe in višje intuitivno iskanje vzorcev vodita do povečanja verovanj v zaroto. Da bi preprečili škodljive učinke verovanj v teorije zarote na individualni in družbeni ravni, priporočamo transparentno informiranje in predhodna opozorila, poleg tega pa posvečanje kritičnemu mišljenju v izobraževanju.

• Keywords: teorije zarot, družbena percepcija, Covid19, duševne motnje