The Role of the Quest for Significance and Vulnerable Narcissism in Conspiratorial Beliefs: Implications for Attitudes Toward Global Crises

ABSTRACT In times of societal upheaval, the quest for significance (QFS) may be associated with greater susceptibility to conspiratorial thinking, especially when combined with vulnerable narcissistic traits such as sensitivity to criticism and fragile self‐worth. The present research examines associations among QFS and vulnerable narcissism, conspiracy beliefs, and attitudes toward the Russia–Ukraine war and COVID‐19 vaccination. Two cross‐sectional studies were conducted using the same conceptual model in distinct sociopolitical contexts. Study 1 involved an Italian sample ( N = 752), and Study 2 involved a Georgian sample ( N = 914). Moderated mediation analyses indicated that higher levels of QFS were associated with stronger conspiracy beliefs, with this association becoming stronger as vulnerable narcissism increased. Furthermore, conditional indirect associations via conspiracy beliefs were observed for negative attitudes toward COVID‐19 vaccination in both samples, whereas the moderated indirect association with support for Ukraine was supported only in the Italian sample, not in the Georgian sample. Overall, these findings highlight the interplay between motivational and personality processes in relation to conspiratorial worldviews and shaping political and health‐related attitudes, within contexts marked by uncertainty and threat.