They will not control us: Ingroup positivity and belief in intergroup conspiracies

Aleksandra Cichocka , Marta Marchlewska , Agnieszka Golec , Mateusz Olechowski

Abstract

This research examined the role of different forms of positive regard for the ingroup in predicting beliefs in intergroup conspiracies.Collective narcissismreflects a belief in ingroup greatness contingent on others’ recognition. We hypothesized that collective narcissism should be especially likely to foster outgroup conspiracy beliefs. Non-narcissistic ingroup positivity, on the other hand, should predict a weaker tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. In Study 1, the endorsement of conspiratorial explanations of outgroup actionswas positively predicted by collective narcissism but negatively by non-narcissistic ingroup positivity. Study 2 showed that the opposite effects of collective narcissism and nonnarcissistic ingroup positivity on conspiracy beliefsweremediated via differential perceptions of threat. Study 3manipulated whether conspiracy theories implicated ingroup or outgroup members. Collective narcissism predicted belief in outgroup conspiracies but not in ingroup conspiracies, while non-narcissistic ingroup positivity predicted lower conspiracy beliefs, regardless of them being ascribed to the ingroup or the outgroup.