Belief in some conspiracies predicts endorsement of unrelated fictional ones

Evidence

My colleagues and I have found similar results. In one study we discovered that belief in the conspiracy theory that Covid-19 was bioengineered in a lab in Wuhan was linked to an entirely different conspiracy that 5G phone masts are responsible for the virus, and both were correlated with the conspiracy theory that Covid-19 is part of a global plot to force vaccinations on people. Other research has found that you get the same network of relationships with belief in completely made-up conspiracy theories. In other words, if people believe in several existing conspiracy theories and you offer up an additional, unrelated fictional conspiracy theory, they will often welcome that one too. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 184

Categorization

• XREF: Direct complement to the ‘monological belief system’ idea from @173; one disposition, not many distinct beliefs. — connects to: Specific claims are subordinate to a superordinate conspiracy narrative — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 195; Belief in one form of stigmatized knowledge predicts belief in unrelated others — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 545; Reptoid conspiracy lore descended from a Conan-the-Barbarian author’s story — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 580 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Belief in one form of stigmatized knowledge predicts belief in unrelated others #corroborates (0.85) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 545