Work

Conspiracy belief and opposition to wind farms: A longitudinal study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The extension of wind energy plays a crucial role in achieving global climate goals. However, wind farms often face opposition by local communities. Recent research found cross-sectional evidence that conspiracy belief is an important predictor of wind farm opposition. The current work extends this finding and sheds light on the temporal relationship between these variables. A preregistered, three-wave study among German adults ( N = 297) using Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel analyses found support for our hypothesis that an increase in conspiracy mentality (i.e., the general propensity to believe conspiracy theories) predicts more negative attitudes towards wind farms close to one’s hometown four months later. We also found evidence for the opposite direction, namely that an increase in negative attitudes predicts higher conspiracy mentality four months later. Thus, conspiracy belief and wind farm opposition seem to mutually reinforce each other. Interventions and preventive measures should aim to break this vicious cycle that otherwise might curb the progress of the energy transition.

Source: Journal of Environmental Psychology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102620

Authors: Kevin Winter, Lotte Pummerer, Timo von Oertzen, Matthew J. Hornsey, Kai Sassenberg

Institutions: University of Hohenheim, Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien, University of Bremen, The University of Queensland, Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID)

Language: English

Topic: Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,380