Conspiracist beliefs, intuitive thinking, and schizotypal facets: a further evaluation

Denovan, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9082-7225, Dagnall, N ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0657-7604, Drinkwater, K ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4015-0578, Parker, A and Neave, N (2020) Conspiracist beliefs, intuitive thinking, and schizotypal facets: a further evaluation. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 34 (6). pp. 1394-1405. ISSN 0888-4080

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Official URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acp.37...

Abstract

© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets. A UK-based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O-Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to reality testing deficits and Need for Cognition). Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets. Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition. Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy-belief in conspiracy relationship. This pattern of results (higher experiential-based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking. Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs. Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not. These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy-conspiracist beliefs relationship.

Item Type:	Article
Peer-reviewed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2020 11:02
Publisher:	Wiley
Additional Information:	This is an Author Accepted Manuscript of a paper accepted for publication in Applied Cognitive Psychology, published by and copyright Wley.
Divisions:	Faculties > Business and Law Faculties > Health and Education Research Centres > Health, Psychology and Communities
Subject terms:	analytical thinking, conspiracy beliefs, intuitive thinking, schizotypy, thinking style, Social Sciences, Psychology, Experimental, Psychology, Paranormal belief, Personality, Associations, Inventory, Instrument, Ideation, Traits, Styles, Need, Bias, Experimental Psychology, 1505 Marketing, 1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Sciences
URI:	https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/626655
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3716
ISSN	0888-4080
e-ISSN	1099-0720

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