Consequences of conspiracy theories on political efficacy and political participation

This chapter is aimed at exploring the role of conspiracy beliefs on perceived political efficacy and consequently on political participation. Indeed, recent findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs are indirectly and negatively related to conventional participation through external efficacy. However, some research suggests that not all the conspiracy claims are conspiracy theories and not all have the same potential for societal harm. Following the proposal by WuMing 1, we propose to differentiate conspiracy beliefs in conspiracy fantasies (i.e., unrealistic, and universalistic conspiracy) and conspiracy hypotheses (i.e., plausible, and limited conspiracy), and to explore their effects on internal and external political efficacy and consequently on political participation. We predict that conspiracy fantasies and conspiracy hypotheses are two operationally differentiable constructs, that conspiracy fantasies can reduce perceived internal political efficacy and consequently political participation, whereas both conspiracy fantasies and conspiracy hypotheses can negatively predict external political efficacy and political participation. Results from one cross-sectional survey conducted in Italy partially supported our predictions showing that conspiracy fantasies (but not conspiracy hypotheses) are associated with lower internal and external efficacy, but only internal political efficacy mediates the effect on political participation. The implications of these findings are considered to better understand the psychology of conspiracy hypotheses and their social consequences and impact on political efficacy and political participation.