Frontiers in Psychology
Volume 4, Issue MAY, 2013

Girl in the cellar: A repeated cross-sectional investigation of belief in conspiracy theories about the kidnapping of Natascha Kampusch (Article) (Open Access)

Stieger S. , Gumhalter N. , Tran U.S. , Voracek M. , Swami V.*
  • a Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • b Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • c Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • d Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • e Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, Department of Psychology, HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

The present study utilized a repeated cross-sectional survey design to examine belief in conspiracy theories about the abduction of Natascha Kampusch. At two time points (October 2009 and October 2011), participants drawn from independent cross-sections of the Austrian population (Time Point 1, N = 281; Time Point 2, N = 277) completed a novel measure of belief in conspiracy theories concerning the abduction of Kampusch, as well as measures of general conspiracist ideation, self-esteem, paranormal and superstitious beliefs, cognitive ability, and media exposure to the Kampusch case. Results indicated that although belief in the Kampusch conspiracy theory declined between testing periods, the effect size of the difference was small. In addition, belief in the Kampusch conspiracy theory was significantly predicted by general conspiracist ideation at both time points. The need to conduct further longitudinal tests of conspiracist ideation is emphasized in conclusion. © 2013 Stieger, Gumhalter, Tran, Voracek and Swami.

Author Keywords

Repeated cross-sectional survey Natascha Kampusch individual differences Conspiracy theories Media exposure

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84878933802&doi=10.3389%2ffpsyg.2013.00297&partnerID=40&md5=48ff174c34e81c4e620c2258b56b6efe
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00297
ISSN: 16641078
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English