Evil perceptions mediate the association between trait anger and generic conspiracy beliefs

Abstract

Building on research that has suggested that perceiving conspirators to have evil intentions and that trait anger relates to conspiracy beliefs, the present research tested the hypothesis that these evil perceptions mediate the relationship between trait anger and generic conspiracy beliefs. American participants (N = 828; M = 34.02, SD = 15.65) completed established questionnaires that assessed trait anger and hostility as well as generic conspiracy beliefs; they also completed a novel questionnaire that assessed how evil the conspirators were perceived to be. Results from three studies supported this primary novel hypothesis. In addition to testing this primary hypothesis, the studies also tested whether hostility, a more cognitive component of aggression associated with resentment and suspicion, related to evil perceptions and conspiracy beliefs, and whether evil perceptions mediated the hostility-conspiracy beliefs relationship. Results also supported this hypothesis. In addition, we tested whether humility, which has been found to be antithetical to anger, would relate negatively with conspiracy beliefs and evil perceptions. Results partially supported this hypothesis. These findings suggest that individuals who score higher in trait anger are more likely to have generic conspiracy beliefs and that the perception of evil intentions on the part of the conspirators mediates this trait anger-conspiracy beliefs relationship.