Predicting COVID-19 conspiracist ideation from the Dark Tetrad traits [post]

Cameron Stuart Kay
2020 unpublished
Previous research has suggested that the Dark Triad traits and, specifically, Machiavellianism and psychopathy, are associated with a tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. The current study (N = 203) aimed to replicate and extend the existing research by examining the relationship between the Dark Tetrad traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and everyday sadism—and a novel measure of COVID-19 conspiracist ideation. Machiavellian views and psychopathic antisociality were
more » ... cant positive predictors of the tendency to believe in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, even when accounting for the participants' knowledge about COVID-19. Overall, the results suggest that some (but not all) aspects of the Dark Tetrad are associated with COVID-19 conspiracist ideation.
doi:10.31234/osf.io/j3m2y fatcat:s4ymsfs5ijg27h24uesnjr4n6e