Those who subscribe to outrageous conspiracy theories are more likely to commit low-level crime, a new study has found.
Belief in such ideas – like the theory that Princess Diana was murdered by the British establishment – has often been associated with negative outcomes such as political disengagement, prejudice, and environmental inaction.
And now psychologists from the universities of Kent and Staffordshire suggest it can also make people more inclined to be involved in antisocial and ‘unethical’ acts.
These actions include petty crime, such as trying to claim for replacement items, refunds or compensation from a shop when they were not entitled to do so.
A second study showed that those who were exposed to conspiracy theories during the experiment were immediately more accepting of low-level crime.
Professor Karen Douglas, of Kent’s School of Psychology, said: ‘People who believe in conspiracy theories – such as the theory that Princess Diana was murdered by the British establishment – are more likely to accept or engage in everyday criminal activity.’
‘Our research has shown for the first time the role that conspiracy theories can play in determining an individual’s attitude to everyday crime.
‘It demonstrates that people subscribing to the view that others have conspired might be more inclined toward unethical actions.‘
Dr Dan Jolley, of Staffordshire University, said: ‘People believing in conspiracy theories are more likely to be accepting of everyday crime, while exposure to theories increases a feeling of anomie, which in turn predicts increased future everyday crime intentions.’
The study, entitled Belief in conspiracy theories and intentions to engage in everyday crime, and published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, was performed in two parts with separate groups of people.
In the first, the researchers asked 253 participants what their attitudes towards conspiracy theories were – including the British government duping the public on issues of national security.
These same participants were then asked how acceptable they considered small crime, which ranged from ‘unethical action’ to petty crime.
The team found a high positive correlation between the two.
In the second study, 120 people were asked the same questions about crime, but 50 per cent of the participants were given an article about a conspiracy theory to read during the experiment.
The results showed that those who read the article had a stronger inclination to engage in petty crime than those who didn’t.
Nice to see the comments on DM were 99% on the right path from those awake and aware…aka; criminals
Precisely.
This is the danger of the communists wanting “mental health” screenings for gun purchases listed right here in this article. You don’t think like we want you to, firearm purchase DENIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Judging by the title, this article is a conspiracy theory. Thus, not wanting to be exposed to evilspeak, I did not read the article.
The real criminals are sitting in office, love the way these asshole traitors divert the truth. So who are the real criminals again?????????
Trump is a fkg conman, been one for 40 years, Joe Bidon is a molester of women, Pelosi is a racketeer, the Clinton’s are both thieves and murderers, the entire Bush family belongs in prison, need I go on???????
Like Koyote always says, “who writes this shit”?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ZACTLY!!!
Just keep on prattling garbage nobody believes…heck, even the libtards and ZioShills believe some conspiracy theories!
I have enormous respect for “conspiracy theorists.” It is they (we) who are willing to question, to dig deep with countless hours of research, all to uncover contradictions and expose lies. These are the true thinkers of our time, fully able to upset the apple-cart and find the worm. My experience has shown me that most are integrity-driven, and that’s a very good and necessary thing. One day there will be a great hall honoring those (named and unnamed) who dared to be Conspiracy Theorists.
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