Date of Graduation

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Psychological Science

Advisor/Mentor

Eidelman, Scott

Committee Member

Kumar, T.K.S.

Second Committee Member

Judah, Matt

Third Committee Member

Neville-Shepard, Ryan

Abstract

With the increase in conspiracy theory beliefs, there is a need for intervention techniques. Do some intervention techniques work better when taking into account the personal relevance a person has towards a topic? One hundred and sixty undergraduate students first read an article that introduced the conspiracy theory and established personal relevance. To manipulate personal relevance, participants were told that a new vaccine mandate would be put into place either July 2023 or July 2031. Then, they considered an article that worked to intervene the conspiracy belief. Participants either read an article that was focused on affective or cognitive intervention techniques. To measure the dependent variable, participants reported their support for the conspiracy theory. Results indicated that personal relevance played little role in impacting conspiracy beliefs. However, cognitive intervention tech had a significantly decreased anti-vaccine attitudes when compared to the control condition.

Keywords

conspiracy; intervention; personal relevance

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