Search results

International audience ; This exploratory study aims at identifying macro-social factors associated with the international variance of belief in conspiracy theories. We computed a Conspiracy Index for 22 Western and non-Western countries based on the results of an online survey on conspiratorial beliefs. Stepwise regression analyses show that more than 70% of the international variance of this Conspiracy Index is explained by the following three national variables: the level of democracy, the unemployment rate, and the perceived level of public sector corruption. Conspiracy theories thus appear to be more commonly endorsed in countries where people cannot take an active part in the political life of their country (low level of democracy), where they may feel socially threatened (high unemployment rate), and where institutions and authorities are perceived as untrustworthy (high perception of public sector corruption). ; Cette étude exploratoire entend identifier les facteurs macro-sociaux associés à la variance internationale du niveau de croyance dans les théories du complot. Nous avons construit un indice de complotisme pour 22 pays occidentaux et non-occidentaux à partir des résultats d'un sondage en ligne sur les croyances conspirationnistes. Une analyse de régression pas à pas montre que plus de 70 % de la variance internationale de cet indice peut être expliquée par les trois variables nationales suivantes : le niveau de démocratie, le taux de chômage et le niveau perçu de corruption du secteur public. Les théories du complot semblent ainsi être plus communément admises dans les pays où la population n'est pas en mesure de prendre activement part à la vie politique (faible niveau de démocratie), où elle se sent socialement menacée (taux de chômage élevé) et dans lesquels les institutions et les autorités sont perçues comme n'étant pas dignes de confiance (secteur public perçu comme corrompu).

International audience ; This exploratory study aims at identifying macro-social factors associated with the international variance of belief in conspiracy theories. We computed a Conspiracy Index for 22 Western and non-Western countries based on the results of an online survey on conspiratorial beliefs. Stepwise regression analyses show that more than 70% of the international variance of this Conspiracy Index is explained by the following three national variables: the level of democracy, the unemployment rate, and the perceived level of public sector corruption. Conspiracy theories thus appear to be more commonly endorsed in countries where people cannot take an active part in the political life of their country (low level of democracy), where they may feel socially threatened (high unemployment rate), and where institutions and authorities are perceived as untrustworthy (high perception of public sector corruption). ; Cette étude exploratoire entend identifier les facteurs macro-sociaux associés à la variance internationale du niveau de croyance dans les théories du complot. Nous avons construit un indice de complotisme pour 22 pays occidentaux et non-occidentaux à partir des résultats d'un sondage en ligne sur les croyances conspirationnistes. Une analyse de régression pas à pas montre que plus de 70 % de la variance internationale de cet indice peut être expliquée par les trois variables nationales suivantes : le niveau de démocratie, le taux de chômage et le niveau perçu de corruption du secteur public. Les théories du complot semblent ainsi être plus communément admises dans les pays où la population n'est pas en mesure de prendre activement part à la vie politique (faible niveau de démocratie), où elle se sent socialement menacée (taux de chômage élevé) et dans lesquels les institutions et les autorités sont perçues comme n'étant pas dignes de confiance (secteur public perçu comme corrompu).

Cet article aborde la question de la conversion de la visibilité sociale en capital économique par l'étude de certaines caractéristiques du marché de la conférence rémunérée. Pour ce faire, nous proposons une méthode innovante permettant de quantifier la notoriété individuelle, y compris chez des personnes modestement connues. Nous examinons alors le rôle joué par la (micro)notoriété dans la fixation des prix sur ce marché. Nos analyses des registres d'une importante agence de conférenciers font apparaître qu'un tiers de la variance du prix de vente des conférences s'explique par la notoriété de ceux qui les donnent. Le marché de la conférence rémunérée constitue ainsi un sas de conversion du capital de (micro)notoriété en capital économique.

International audience ; The aim of this research is to identify what social and psychological variables may attract people to a social protest movement, namely the Yellow Vests (YVs) in France, which originated in October 2018. This analysis, albeit correlational, may nevertheless give important hints to identify in an exploratory way what causal factors could lead people (a) to become a sympathizer of the movement and (b) to become a member of that movement, and what psychosocial consequences would derive from (a) and (b). Notably, the role of conspiracy beliefs and anomie will be scrutinized because of their role in fostering non-normative political violence. In this purpose, we analyzed the results of a poll conducted on a representative sample of the French population (N = 1760). This survey explored a range of respondents' attitudes towards social issues and towards the YVs movement. Our analyses showed that adherence to the YVs movement is mainly caused by socioeconomic factors (such as educational level, economic capital) and belonging to political extremes (far left and even more far right), relying on and probably increasing distrust toward authorities and unconventional beliefs (paranormal and conspiracist). Ultimately, adherence to the movement seems triggered by the objective factor of dependency on a car and endorsement of conspiracist beliefs; whereas, simple sympathy is related to a less irrational form of accusation of authorities, low subjective economic capital, and pessimism toward the future. YVs also more often use social media and Youtube, but less often use media websites and newspapers as their first source of information.

International audience ; The aim of this research is to identify what social and psychological variables may attract people to a social protest movement, namely the Yellow Vests (YVs) in France, which originated in October 2018. This analysis, albeit correlational, may nevertheless give important hints to identify in an exploratory way what causal factors could lead people (a) to become a sympathizer of the movement and (b) to become a member of that movement, and what psychosocial consequences would derive from (a) and (b). Notably, the role of conspiracy beliefs and anomie will be scrutinized because of their role in fostering non-normative political violence. In this purpose, we analyzed the results of a poll conducted on a representative sample of the French population (N = 1760). This survey explored a range of respondents' attitudes towards social issues and towards the YVs movement. Our analyses showed that adherence to the YVs movement is mainly caused by socioeconomic factors (such as educational level, economic capital) and belonging to political extremes (far left and even more far right), relying on and probably increasing distrust toward authorities and unconventional beliefs (paranormal and conspiracist). Ultimately, adherence to the movement seems triggered by the objective factor of dependency on a car and endorsement of conspiracist beliefs; whereas, simple sympathy is related to a less irrational form of accusation of authorities, low subjective economic capital, and pessimism toward the future. YVs also more often use social media and Youtube, but less often use media websites and newspapers as their first source of information.

The aim of this research is to identify what social and psychological variables may attract people to a social protest movement, namely the Yellow Vests (YVs) in France, which originated in October 2018. This analysis, albeit correlational, may nevertheless give important hints to identify in an exploratory way what causal factors could lead people (a) to become a sympathizer of the movement and (b) to become a member of that movement, and what psychosocial consequences would derive from (a) and (b). Notably, the role of conspiracy beliefs and anomie will be scrutinized because of their role in fostering non-normative political violence. In this purpose, we analyzed the results of a poll conducted on a representative sample of the French population (N = 1760). This survey explored a range of respondents' attitudes towards social issues and towards the YVs movement. Our analyses showed that adherence to the YVs movement is mainly caused by socio-economic factors (such as educational level, economic capital) and belonging to political extremes (far left and even more far right), relying on and probably increasing distrust toward authorities and unconventional beliefs (paranormal and conspiracist). Ultimately, adherence to the movement seems triggered by the objective factor of dependency on a car and endorsement of conspiracist beliefs; whereas, simple sympathy is related to a less irrational form of accusation of authorities, low subjective economic capital, and pessimism toward the future. YVs also more often use social media and Youtube, but less often use media websites and newspapers as their first source of information.