Echoes of a Conspiracy: Birthers, Truthers, and the Cultivation of Extremism

Abstract

A significant number of Americans express sympathies for conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's birth and George Bush's role in the 9/11 attacks. This study sought to test the role of ideological media in perpetuating these beliefs. Specifically, experiments were conducted to determine if ideologically homogeneous media echo-chambers could cultivate belief in conspiracy theories and whether debunking information would reverse this belief. Results found that media echo-chambers increased belief in conspiracy theories though debunking information reversed or minimized this effect. Results confirm the role of ideological media in spreading extremist attitudes but also demonstrate the value of debunking efforts.

Keywords:

• Conspiracy Theory
• Fragmentation
• Political Extremism: Selective Exposure

Notes

* = p < 0.05;.

** = p < 0.01;.

*** = p < 0.001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Benjamin R. Warner

Benjamin R. Warner (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2011) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri.

Ryan Neville-Shepard

Ryan Neville-Shepard (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2011) is an Assistant Professor of Communication in the Division of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University, Columbus.