Casey Klofstad|Joseph E. Uscinski|Jennifer Connolly|Jonathan P. West
What drives people to believe in Zika conspiracy theories?
University of Miami|University of Miami|University of Miami|University of Miami
abstract conspiracy theories pseudoscientific claims zika virus prominent social media extent public concerned virus extent public adopted zika conspiracy theories using data 2016 cooperative congressional election study show majority americans concerned zika virus approximately one five americans believes least one zikarelated conspiracy theory widely believed virus caused genetically modified mosquitoes find elevated levels conspiracy thinking correlated concern zika belief zikarelated conspiracy theories example person scoring maximum conspiratorial thinking scale estimated believe 61 zika conspiracy theories person scoring minimum estimated believe 06 zika conspiracy theories study demonstrates role predispositions specifically underlying conspiracy thinking acceptance conspiratorial unscientific beliefs