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. 2018 Apr;48(3):320-335.
doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2331. Epub 2017 Sep 25.

Connecting the dots: Illusory pattern perception predicts belief in conspiracies and the supernatural

Jan-Willem van Prooijen  1   2 , Karen M Douglas  3 , Clara De Inocencio  1   3
Affiliations

Connecting the dots: Illusory pattern perception predicts belief in conspiracies and the supernatural

Jan-Willem van Prooijen et al. Eur J Soc Psychol. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

A common assumption is that belief in conspiracy theories and supernatural phenomena are grounded in illusory pattern perception. In the present research we systematically tested this assumption. Study 1 revealed that such irrational beliefs are related to perceiving patterns in randomly generated coin toss outcomes. In Study 2, pattern search instructions exerted an indirect effect on irrational beliefs through pattern perception. Study 3 revealed that perceiving patterns in chaotic but not in structured paintings predicted irrational beliefs. In Study 4, we found that agreement with texts supporting paranormal phenomena or conspiracy theories predicted pattern perception. In Study 5, we manipulated belief in a specific conspiracy theory. This manipulation influenced the extent to which people perceive patterns in world events, which in turn predicted unrelated irrational beliefs. We conclude that illusory pattern perception is a central cognitive mechanism accounting for conspiracy theories and supernatural beliefs.

Keywords: Illusory pattern perception; conspiracy beliefs; irrational beliefs; supernatural beliefs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A–C) The Relationships of Agreement with Pattern Perception—Study 4 [Colour figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]
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