ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that two aspects of conflict between groups are good predictors of conspiracy theories. In order to understand the social roots of conspiracy theories, the chapter discusses how two common characteristics of intergroup conflict relate to conspiracy beliefs. The first characteristic is the extent to which people connect their own identity to a group. The second characteristic is feelings of outgroup threat. The previous discussion suggests a straightforward proposition about the social roots of conspiracy theories: The more strongly people connect their own identity with a particular group, the more likely they are to believe conspiracy theories when members of that group are victimized. A second proposition that follows from the social roots of conspiracy theories is that a sense of outgroup threat matters. In light of the main proposition that conspiracy theories have social roots, societal minority groups provide for an interesting case.
