Conspiracy Beliefs Fall Along Party Lines

A new national poll reveals that Americans differ along political party lines even in their endorsement of conspiracy theories, including the belief that President Obama is the Anti-Christ and the idea that global warming is a hoax. The poll found, for instance, just 15 percent of Democrats believe a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government, or New World Order; compare that with 34 percent of Republicans and 35 percent of Independents who believe the same.

Research suggests that in some cases belief in conspiracy theories can actually be psychologically adaptive and beneficial, as the very premise of conspiracies implies a powerful, hidden force at work with some overarching grand design. Conspiracy theorists see a hidden hand behind the world's major events, including social and political changes. Even though conspiracy theorists claim to want to expose the conspiracy and thwart its goals (such as establishing a New World Order), some take comfort that the world is not merely random — that things happen for a reason. Though conspiracy believers don't feel in control of the events, they feel that at least someone is (or a small cabal of powerful "someones" are).

www.livescience.com...
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Pretty cool! Also cool how they say a little bit of paranoia is beneficial! Who knew?
I believe that conspiracy theories are like UFO sightings.
99% are bunk but...What of the other1% ??
(cue creepy music)

I had to laugh when I saw this poll, I believe most of those things. It is no secret that our govt. keeps secrets, the only mystery is how much?

more:

In many cases, in fact, conspiracy believers endorse contradictory theories. Recent studies by researcher Karen Douglas at the University of Kent suggest a reason why. She and colleagues asked 137 students to rate how much they agreed with five conspiracy theories about the 1997 death of Princess Diana. The results were surprising — and contradictory. As Douglas explained to LiveScience, "The more people were likely to endorse the idea Princess Diana was murdered, the more they were likely to believe that Princess Diana is alive." To many conspiracy theorists settling on one definitive theory (for example whether bin Laden or Princess Diana is alive or not — and if they aren't, how or when they died) is far less important than knowing that something has been covered up and is being kept secret.

Only 137 people polled for this one, interesting nonetheless.

This doesn't really surprise me at all, ATS has always seemed to be a predominantly right-wing forum.

Interesting also to note that there seems to be more independents here as well which also correlates with their research.

some take comfort that the world is not merely random — that things happen for a reason. Though conspiracy believers don't feel in control of the events, they feel that at least someone is (or a small cabal of powerful "someones" are).

Is this true? Does anyone here actually feel that way?

Seems like an ad hoc statement that's not really true, but just sounds like it could be true to people who don't know about CTs.

reply to post by Ghost375


It sounds a bit like the author(s) are looking at conspiracy theorists as a whole. Kinda lumping the diversity of the "group" together.