There are higher levels of conspiracy beliefs in more corrupt countries

Abstract

AbstractIn four studies, I found evidence that people living in countries with higher levels of corruption have a greater tendency for conspiracy ideation. In Study 1 (21 countries, N = 20,207), participants living in more corrupt countries reported having higher COVID‐19 and generic conspiracy beliefs. Study 2 (25 countries, N = 4935), Study 3 (25 countries, N = 24,424), and Study 4 (24 countries, N = 5973) replicated the same finding. Internal meta‐analysis suggested that this association remained significant after adjusting for other relevant cross‐country differences. Studies 1 and 2, but not 3 and 4, also showed that corruption moderated the association between individuals’ gullibility (i.e., lack of education) and their conspiracy beliefs, and this association was significant only in low‐corruption countries. The findings suggest that country‐level corruption breeds conspiracy beliefs and moderates the effect of individuals’ gullibility on conspiracy beliefs.