A1 Journal article (refereed)
Assessing inoculation’s effectiveness in motivating resistance to conspiracy propaganda in Finnish and United States samples (2024)


Bessarabova, E., Banas, J. A., Reinikainen, H., Talbert, N., Luoma-aho, V., & Tsetsura, K. (2024). Assessing inoculation’s effectiveness in motivating resistance to conspiracy propaganda in Finnish and United States samples. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1416722. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1416722


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Bessarabova, Elena; Banas, John A.; Reinikainen, Hanna; Talbert, Neil; Luoma-aho, Vilma; Tsetsura, Katerina

Journal or series: Frontiers in Psychology

eISSN: 1664-1078

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 31/07/2024

Volume: 15

Article number: 1416722

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1416722

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/96577


Abstract

Introduction: This study tested the motivational power of inoculation to foster resistance to conspiracy propaganda (9/11 Truth Movement), comparing inoculation effects across United States and Finnish study participants.

Method: We used a 2 inoculation (treatment vs. control)  ×  2 national culture (American vs. Finnish) independent groups design (N = 319), while examining the effects of motivational threat and thinking modes—analytic vs. intuitive—on the inoculation process. To test the effectiveness of the inoculation strategy, we used an excerpt from a conspiracy film Loose Change as a counterattitudinal attack message.

Results: Our results indicated that inoculation was effective at motivating resistance regardless of national culture. Inoculation effects emerged mostly as a direct effect on resistance and two indirect effects wherein motivational threat mediated the relationship between inoculation and resistance as well as inoculation and analytic mode of message processing. Although we found that an increase in analytic mode of processing facilitated resistance and intuitive processing increased conspiracy-theory endorsement, the indirect effects between inoculation and resistance via message processing modes were not significant. Finally, the data revealed national culture differences in analytic mode and cultural-context differences mostly pertaining to the relationships between thinking styles, media literacy, and modes of thinking.

Discussion: These results offer important theoretical implications for inoculation scholarship and suggest viable practical solutions for efforts to mitigate misinformation and conspiratorial beliefs.


Keywords: conspiracies; beliefs; influencing; cultural differences; thinking; objection; resistance (politics)

Free keywords: culture; inoculation; resistance; prebunking; motivational threat; thinking styles; conspiracies; 9/11 truth conspiracy


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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-14-10 at 15:07