Conspiracy Theory Endorsement Profiles: A Cluster Validation Study

ABSTRACT A substantial body of research has investigated the determinants of conspiratorial beliefs, yet little is known about different conspiracy theory endorsement profiles. The present study used cluster analysis on a set of 52 conspiratorial statements tapping into six conspiracy theory types to identify and validate conspiracy theory endorsement clusters in a randomly drawn sample of the Finnish population ( N = 1077). The cluster solution was then further validated in a social media‐based convenience sample ( N = 772). Four conspiracy theory endorsement clusters with distinct profiles were identified and validated across the samples. Participants who belonged to more conspiracy theory‐endorsing clusters held more pseudoscientific beliefs and had lower political trust than participants in the less conspiracy theory‐endorsing clusters. Mixed results were found concerning demographic differences. The results provide strong evidence for the existence of four conspiracy theory endorsement profiles and support the notion of a general conspiracy mindset.