The explanatory power of the conspiracy belief scale in victimisation surveys

• In Event: Hidden forms of Victimization

Abstract

Belief in conspiracy theories and conspiracy beliefs have been the subject of numerous studies in social psychology and are gradually gaining attention in criminological research as well. Existing findings highlight their negative effects on social engagement, prejudice, anxiety and social trust. Research has also explored the extent to which conspiracy thinking co-occurs with beliefs that justify the use of violence and actual violent behaviour.
In our study we examine the associations between conspiracy beliefs - measured on a five-point scale covering beliefs about government involvement in acts of terrorism, concealment of evidence of alien contact, suppression of technology that could threaten existing businesses, the influence of a secret group on world events, and the conduction of experiments on people without their knowledge or consent – and ‘classic’ variables from victimisation studies, such as victimisation prevalence, fear of crime and punitiveness. We utilize data from the Second National Victimisation Survey conducted in July 2024 on a representative random sample of 5,000 adult Poles. Our preliminary findings suggest that incorporating conspiracy beliefs into victimization research may be valuable. Specifically, the intensity of conspiracy beliefs is positively correlated with experiences of victimization (particularly online victimization), negative perceptions of police and court performance, and heightened punitiveness. To analyze these relationships, we used various statistical methods, including logistic regression models. In this paper, we will present detailed analyses of these relationships and discuss their implications and potential applications.

Authors

• Paweł Ostaszewski, University of Warsaw and Institute of Justice, Poland

• Joanna Klimczak, University of Warsaw and Institute of Justice, Poland

• Justyna Włodarczyk-Madejska, Institute of Law Studies Polish Academy of Sciences and Institute of Justice, Poland