Control deprivation triggers compensatory superstitious and conspiratorial thinking.

Evidence

According to this line of reasoning, experiences or reminders of low control (i.e., control deprivation) should lead to efforts in regaining a sense of control by maintaining psychological structures that are capable of lending order to one’s environment (i.e., control restoration; Kay, Gaucher, McGregor, & Nash, 2010). Accordingly, threats to personal control have been reported to elicit motivated perceptions of order (i.e., illusory pattern perception) — operationalized as superstitious and conspiratorial thinking (Whitson & Galinsky, 2008). — Dmitrij Agroskin and Eva Jonas, Controlling death by defending ingroups, 23

Categorization

• XREF: Whitson & Galinsky’s illusory pattern perception study is the canonical control-restoration result; useful anchor for testing whether a hollowed-out group membership also produces such compensatory perception. — connects to: Guilt requires perceived control while shame arises from uncontrollable exposure — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 219; Suppressing myth converts fear of nature into superstition and nature-domination — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 358; Threat and insecurity from structural conditions drive heightened conspiracy thinking — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 56 (+4 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Dmitrij Agroskin and Eva Jonas, Controlling death by defending…, 23

Broader Connections

• Threat and insecurity from structural conditions drive heightened conspiracy thinking #corroborates (0.88) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 56
• Suppressing myth converts fear of nature into superstition and nature-domination #expands (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 358
• Authoritarian gullibility toward insiders and paranoia toward outsiders share one cause #expands (0.73)
• Guilt requires perceived control while shame arises from uncontrollable exposure #qualifies (0.72) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 219
• Modern false consciousness stems from control over learning, not class position #expands (0.72) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1204
• Psychological manipulation targets cognitive biases as its weak point #qualifies (0.70) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 485
• Believing one is powerless in a system eliminates felt responsibility for actions #complicates (0.70) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 324