Abstract

The right-wing extremists responsible for the attacks in Christchurch and Buffalo had one thing in common: they believed in the conspiracy theory of a deliberate “great replacement.” Similarly, violent attacks on journalists during the COVID-19 protests and the riots at the so-called “March on the Capitol” are associated with belief in conspiracy theories.

However, the belief in conspiracy theories is more widespread than the acceptance (let alone practice) of violence. Therefore, this project investigates when and why the belief in conspiracy theories leads to an increased willingness to commit violence. The focus is on two key factors: perceived threat and individual moral attitudes. Systematically interconnected studies will first determine the violent potential of various conspiracy theories. Furthermore, the project will examine the extent to which perceived threat and individual moral attitudes contribute to an increased willingness to commit violence in connection with conspiracy theories.

The project will be conducted using a combination of correlational and experimental studies, incorporating insights from psychology, communication science, and philosophy. The project’s results have the potential to enable more precise predictions about violence in the context of conspiracy theories and, thus, develop better prevention measures. The findings will be made accessible to the public through both scientific publications and social media.