The Social and Interpersonal Consequences of Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories—explanations attributing significant events to secret plots by powerful actors—are prevalent across various cultures and contexts. While much research has focused on the antecedents of conspiracy beliefs, such as individual traits, political ideology, or societal crises, relatively little is known about their social and interpersonal consequences. Publicly expressing conspiracy beliefs can shape the perceptions others have of an individual, impacting their trustworthiness, likability, and professional credibility. These effects manifest both online and offline, influencing perceptions among partners, family, peers, colleagues, and strangers. Such perceptions may lead to relationship strain, reputational harm, or social and professional exclusion, depending on the person expressing or receiving the belief, the content of the conspiracy theory, and the sociopolitical context. Understanding these effects is vital for grasping how conspiracy theories influence not just individual judgments but also personal relationships and daily social interactions.

This Research Topic aims to comprehend the social and interpersonal repercussions of expressing conspiracy beliefs. These beliefs often transcend private thoughts, being shared, judged, and eliciting reactions within close relationships. Understanding how these beliefs affect trust, intimacy, and social inclusion is vital for explaining their broader societal impact and developing interventions beyond individual-level change. While previous research has largely focused on who holds these beliefs and why, far less attention has been paid to their social and interpersonal consequences. This gap is especially pertinent as conspiracy beliefs become increasingly visible across various interpersonal settings. In cases involving politicized topics, such as climate change or election fraud, expressing conspiracy beliefs can strain romantic relationships by uncovering deep value differences, potentially eroding trust and ending relationships. We invite empirical studies exploring how such beliefs impact interpersonal trust, social acceptance, credibility, and both intended and actual social behavior, with the aim to deepen our understanding of how conspiracy beliefs shape relationships, reputations, and everyday interactions.

To gather further insights in this area of study, we welcome contributions that examine the social and interpersonal costs of conspiracy theories through diverse methodological frameworks. The following themes are particularly of interest:

• Reputational outcomes from expressing conspiracy beliefs
• Impression formation in romantic, workplace, intra- or inter-group, or other social contexts
• Effects on trust, cooperation, and social exclusion
• Group cohesion, impression management, and responses to individuals or organizations promoting conspiracy theories
• Potential mediators or moderators of these responses, such as political ideology, group identity, or personal belief systems
• Underlying mechanisms, including perceived threat, anger, distrust, or moral judgment

We welcome a range of approaches, including—but not limited to—cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental research (online, lab, or field studies), as well as dyadic, qualitative (exploring how people interpret and respond to conspiracy beliefs in everyday life), and mixed-methods designs.