People who endorse COVID-19 conspiracy theories are more likely to be focused on their own health and safety than that of the broader community, a study led by researchers from the University of Queensland has found.
Discoveries from the international survey come just weeks after protesters took to the streets of Brisbane and other Australian capital cities as the country’s vaccination program rollout began.
An anti-lockdown protester organised at a “freedom walk” against Melbourne’s COVID-19 restrictions in September.Credit:Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Among them are that conspiracy theorists were more likely to focus on stockpiling compared to strategies such as hand-washing and social distancing. Matthew Hornsey, from the university’s business school, said they were also more reluctant to take a vaccine.
“Understanding this phenomenon may help inform interventions designed to increase societal resilience in the face of current and future pandemics,” he said.
A total of 4245 people from eight countries were initially surveyed by the research team, with 1262 of those from three countries — Australia, the United Kingdom and Uniter States — followed up again three months later.
Professor Hornsey said that while there were multiple motivations for holding and sharing their views, including those who genuinely thought they were helping others, many did so in a way that also stigmatised themselves.
“More than anything what you see is that conspiracy theorists end up getting isolated from mainstream culture … and that’s where you see a lot of spreading of the message,” he said.
The study grew out of a “pure curiosity” about whether or not coronavirus conspiracy theorists were primarily motivated by concern for others, like social justice activists, or themselves.
And even for those who did circulate their views, on social media or beyond, this could be to boost their own profile among others rather than out of a sense of compassion and community.
