I Trends
| Author | Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00208345231157664 |
| Published date | 01 February 2023 |
| Date | 01 February 2023 |
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I
TRENDS
A Review of Conspiracy Theory Research:
Definitions, Trends, and Directions for Future Research
Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau1
School of Political Studies
University of Ottawa
Abstract: The profusion of conspiracy theories in recent social and political discourse is
alarming. As a response to this increasingly concerning problem, there is a rapidly growing
multidisciplinary literature on conspiracy theories and conspiratorial thinking. In this article, I
review the state of the scholarship on conspiracy theories and its related concepts. I begi n with
a definition of conspiracy theories and key terms related to their communication and belief. Then,
the article turns to the research on the spread, correlates, and consequences of conspir atorial
beliefs, highlighting important findings and trends in research. Lastly, I discuss areas where
research is lacking and future scholarly efforts should be placed. Altogether, this text provides a
much-needed assessment and sorting of a rapidly evolving field of research that spans across
several disciplinary boundaries.
Keywords: conspiracy theories, conspiracy mentality, conspiracy beliefs, conspiratorial
thinking
Corresponding Author: Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau
School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
120 University Private, Faculty of Social Sciences
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N
1 The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or
publication of this article: This work was supported by the International Political Science Association.
There are no known conflicts of interests to declare.
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