Economic inequality and conspiracy theories

Can perceptions of economic inequalities trigger conspiratorial thinking? We provide evidence that high economic inequality may enhance conspiratorial thinking because, as a form of collective-level crisis, it undermines the social fabric of society and engenders anomie. We focus on the mechanism through which inequality should affect conspiratorial thinking by outlining how inequality enhances perceptions of anomie that, in turn, increase conspiratorial thinking. We end our contribution with the observation that it is by focusing on the socio-structural contexts that trigger conspiracy beliefs that we can more fully understand them. Specifically, conspiracy beliefs are not merely a product of individual irrationality, but are grounded in, and reflective of, the times that collectives live in. •Higher levels of economic inequality are associated with higher conspiracy theorizing (CT).•Enhanced anomie (defined as perceived social dysfunction and chaos) provides one explanation for the inequality-CT relationship.•Inequality enhances perceptions of anomie because inequality erodes the social fabric of society.•Conspiratorial thinking is a tool that (falsely) holds the promise to regain a sense of order and control in a society that is breaking down.•Conspiracy theories are not merely irrational individual beliefs but also reflect the times in which people collectively live.