title: Associations between belief in conspiracy theories and the maladaptive personality traits of the personality inventory for DSM-5.
abstract: Conspiracy theories can be treated as both rational narratives of the world as well as outcomes of underlying maladaptive traits. Here, we examined associations between belief in conspiracy theories and individual differences in personality disorders. An Internet-based sample (N=259) completed measures of belief in conspiracy theories and the 25 facets of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Preliminary analyses showed no significant differences in belief in conspiracy theories across participant sex, ethnicity, and education. Regression analyses showed that the PID-5 facets of Unusual Beliefs and Experiences and, to a lesser extent, Suspiciousness, significantly predicted belief in conspiracy theories. These findings highlight a role for maladaptive personality traits in understanding belief in conspiracy theories, but require further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, UK; Department of Psychology, HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: viren.swami@anglia.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Viren
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Swami
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Alixe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lay
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furnham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003469:Culture; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Conspiracy theories; Maladaptive traits; Personality disorders; Suspiciousness; Unusual beliefs