Abstract
Although research examining conspiracy theory beliefs has been examined, there is conflicting literature on the relationship between gender and conspiracy thinking. Before this study, little research has been conducted on the differences between males and females in each of the five facets of conspiracy theory. This study was designed to investigate differences in gender as they pertain to government malfeasance (GM), malevolent global conspiracies (MG), extraterrestrial cover-up (ET), personal well-being (PW), and control of information (CI). It was hypothesized that there are statistically significant differences between females and males when it comes to conspiracy theory beliefs for each of the five facets. Archival data from 2016 containing responses to the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale was analyzed. Results supported the main hypothesis of this investigation that significant differences do, in fact, exist between females and males in all five facets of conspiracy theory: government malfeasance, malevolent global conspiracies, extraterrestrial cover-up, personal well-being, and control of information. In addition, this study revealed that females score higher than males in all facets. In general, a computed total conspiracy belief score demonstrated that females (M = 45.10, SD = 15.07) were significantly higher than males (M = 42.13, SD = 15.90). Nevertheless, some recent research has reported that women were significantly less likely than men to engage in ‘conspiratorial thinking’ and endorse a conspiracy about the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. These findings may be suggesting a change in direction for gender differences and a need for further research. 
  
Highlights
Despite the widespread belief of conspiracy theories in popular culture, the psychology behind conspiracy theory beliefs is a topic in which little research has been conducted
A total score on the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS) was computed for each subject and ranged from a low of 15 to a high of 75 with higher scores representing a greater likelihood to believe in conspiracy theory
The main purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of gender differences within each of the five facets of conspiracy theory beliefs and to contribute to the lack of research in this area
Summary
Despite the widespread belief of conspiracy theories in popular culture, the psychology behind conspiracy theory beliefs is a topic in which little research has been conducted. Conspiracies are most prevalent where there is minimal or conflicting information about a topic, or when the public offers incomplete explanations for impactful events (Seide, 2021). People create conspiracy theories to make up for the unthinkable such as mythological creatures, extraterrestrial lifeforms, celebrities faking their own deaths, and even the paranormal to feel safer. Conspiracy theories are especially prominent in Western cultures. Even UFO coverups (Harrison & Thomas, 2000), people have put their faith in conspiracy theories to explain the unknown
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