SUMMARY:
My internationally recongised research agenda tackles significant global issues that can harm the smooth running of societies.
Read a recent paper: Shining a spotlight on the dangerous consequences of conspiracy theories (see here for a video explainer)
Watch a public talk on the Psychology of Conspiracy Theories
I take a unique experimental approach to studying the social-psychological consequences of conspiracy theories and misinformation. Millions of people from across the globe believe in conspiracy theories that explain events as the result of secret, deliberate actions and cover-ups at the hands of powerful and malevolent groups.
My research demonstrates the pervasive societal and psychological impact of conspiracy beliefs. These beliefs have been linked to disengagement from politics, diminished concern about environmental issues, and the erosion of trust in public health initiatives (BJP, 2014; PLOS ONE, 2014; Sexual Health, 2020). They are also associated with support for violence (BJSP, 2020) and engagement in unethical behaviours (BJSP, 2019; Social Psychology, 2023). My recent studies have explored how economic hardship fosters feelings of anomie, which heightens belief in conspiracy theories targeting marginalized groups, amplifying anti-immigrant sentiment and societal polarization (see a Project Report here). I have also demonstrated that conspiracy beliefs can distract from systemic inequalities, reducing the likelihood of social and political change (Political Psychology, 2018).
In addressing these challenges, I have tested interventions to mitigate their effects, showing that counterarguments can combat anti-vaccine conspiracies (JASP, 2017), while intergroup contact (EJSP, 2023) and social norms (GPIR, 2021; PLOSONE, 2021) can reduce conspiracy beliefs. My high-quality publications, cited over 4,600 times (h-index 16, Google Scholar), continue to influence the field, with most ranked in the top 5% of research outputs tracked by Altimetric for online attention.
You can find details on my publications here or on OSF.
FUNDING:
I have secured research funding to continue this research and develop new avenues of study (>£300k in total). For example, I have recently completed a project funded by the BA/Leverhulme (£9.6k, PI) that aimed to develop and validate a conspiracy belief questionnaire suitable for adolescents. To date, research has focused only on adults, and no studies have examined conspiracy beliefs among younger people. Our novel questionnaire will enable an exploration of the psychological antecedents and consequences of conspiracy thinking in younger populations and explore the origins of conspiracy beliefs.
I have also received funds for public engagement (>10k in total) - for example, I have co-organized five events as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences series. In addition, as a winner of I’m a Scientist, I could commission artists to draw my research (see below and here).
You can find details on my funding here.
COLLABORATION:
Collaboration is paramount to my research. I work closely with academics in the UK and internationally. I am an active member of an interdisciplinary COST network -Comparative Analysis of Conspiracy Theories– that brings international scholars from various disciplines into direct contact, such as political science, sociology, and history.
In addition, I work with various stakeholders, such as the MET police and the UK Home Office, where I am currently advising on the role of conspiracy theories. I regularly speak to other stakeholders to advise on the psychology of conspiracy theories more broadly, such as to the Public Policy team on YouTube and Doctors without Borders.
As evidence of this collaboration, I recently worked on a project with Social Justice Ireland, where a Policy Brief was published, and our research underpinned the brief.
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE:
I have been invited to give talks to stakeholders (e.g., Police Commissioners Annual Conference) and the general public (e.g., Cheltenham Science Festival, Skeptics in the Pub, Psychology in the Pub events across the UK). Due to the timely and newsworthy nature of his research, he is regularly invited to speak to various media outlets, including TV, radio and print/digital media.
For example, I have appeared on the popular U.S TV show Adam Ruins Everything; and recently my research has been featured on BBC One Show, BBC News, Sky News, City News (Toronto), CGTN (Europe), in New York Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, Huffington Post and Discover Magazine. He has given multiple live radio interviews, including appearing on BBC Five Live, TalkRADIO, BBC Scotland, and more than 25 BBC UK Local stations.
I also maintain a strong network within academia by presenting at national and international conferences and have been invited to several other university departmental talks (e.g., Cardiff University, Keele University) and other events (e.g., UC Berkeley’s 2021 Othering & Belonging Conference; BPS Annual Conference, Research Spotlight).
I also actively try to use alternative outputs to communicate my research, such as contributing to a blog (conspriacypsychology.com, >362k views) and commissioning artists to draw my research (see below). Thanks to I’m a Scientist for supporting this. With colleagues, I also developed the Kitchen Conspiracy, an outreach exhibit to introduce conspiracy theories.
You can also watch a video using the artwork on YouTube (>2k views).
EXAMPLE VIDEOS:
You can download the infographic here.