Ingroup conspiratorial beliefs: Re-thinking racial/ethnic minority group conspiracy in the UK and US

BackgroundResearch has consistently identified the tendency of minority ethnic groups to more strongly endorse universal conspiracy theories (where the general public is targeted) as well as ingroup conspiratorial beliefs (where one’s ethnic group is specifically targeted). However, the two types of conspiratorial beliefs have been studied in isolation, and thus their relationship remains unknown. MethodsAcross two studies, we assessed both universal and ingroup conspiratorial beliefs in an ethnically diverse sample from the United Kingdom (n = 900 across Black, South Asian, and white ethnic/racial groups) and United States (n = 900 across Black, Hispanic, and White ethnic/racial groups). Moreover, we explored institutional trust, lack of group recognition, and discrimination as potential predictors of ingroup conspiratorial beliefs.ResultsOur results indicate that ethnic minority groups’ greater support for universal conspiratorial beliefs emerges fully from their support for ingroup conspiracy theories. Further, lack of group recognition, but not institutional trust nor discrimination, predicted ingroup conspiratorial beliefs.ConclusionsInterventions aimed at decreasing conspiratorial beliefs as a barrier to health-protective behaviours in ethnic communities should focus on measures that address ingroup, rather than universal, conspiratorial belief.