Work

Climate of conspiracy: A meta-analysis of the consequences of belief in conspiracy theories about climate change

Year: 2022

Type: review

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Despite widespread scientific consensus on climate change, conspiracy theories about its causes and consequences are flourishing. In response, psychological research has started to investigate the consequences of espousing conspiracy beliefs about climate change. Although some scholars maintain that the evidence for a causal link between belief in conspiracy theories and behavior remains elusive, others have argued that climate change conspiracy theories undermine pro-climate action. To shed further light on this question across a range of outcome measures, we present a meta-analysis of 22 independent samples (Nparticipants = 20,765). Overall, we find clear evidence that climate conspiracy beliefs have moderate-to-large negative correlations with not only acceptance of (climate) science, trust, and pro-environmental concern, but also with behavioural intentions and policy support. Most of these effects were not moderated by design (experimental vs. correlational), political ideology, or prior conspiracy beliefs. However, we note publication bias and in several cases sufficient experimental data were lacking. Implications for addressing conspiracy theories about climate change are discussed.

Source: Current Opinion in Psychology

DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101390

Authors: Mikey Biddlestone, Flavio Azevedo, Sander van der Linden

Institution: University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Misinformation and Its Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,460