Why Do People Find Conspiracy Beliefs Meaningful? A Mixed Methods Investigation of Conspiracy Beliefs about the COVID-19 Pandemic and the War in Ukraine

Conspiracy beliefs explain events through secret malevolent intentions. Research has shown that conspiracy believers often interpret contradictory evidence as confirming their beliefs and may form monological belief systems. On the other hand, some studies also suggest that believe in conspiracy theories can be characterized by openness and dialogical reasoning. However, past studies rely on self-report scales that can mask subtle differences and exclude strong believers. Drawing on personal construct theory, we conducted two studies on conspiracy beliefs related to COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Using quantitative scales, semi-structured interviews, and the Repertory Grid Technique, we identified four groups of participants based on their belief patterns: monological structure, relativism, agnosticism, and lack of interest in global events. All groups scored highly on conspiracy belief scales, but differed in their underlying reasoning. Only the first group fits the monological assumption. These findings challenge the idea that conspiracy belief endorsement exists along a single continuum. To effectively mitigate conspiracy beliefs, it is crucial to address the diverse psychological processes that underlie them.