Conspiracy theories once limited to fringe audiences have become commonplace in mass media, contributing to conspiracism emerging as a cultural phenomenon in the United States of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The general predisposition to believe conspiracy theories cuts across partisan and ideological lines. Conspiratorial thinking is correlated with antigovernmental orientations and a low sense of political efficacy, with conspiracy believers perceiving a governmental threat to individual rights and displaying a deep skepticism that who one votes for really matters.Adam M. Enders, "Conspiratorial Thinking and Political Constraint". Public Opinion Quarterly 83.3 (2019): 510–533.
cOnSpiRACY THEories ONce, lImitED TO fRinge aUDiences hAve beCOme comMONPlACe in Mass Media contribUTing to coNspiracism emerGing as A cultuRal pHEnOmeNOn in The unitEd StaTEs OF THE lATe 20th and eaRly 21sT CenTuRiEs thE general prEDIs,posItiON To beLIEve conSPiraCy ThEoRies Cuts AcROsS paRtisaN aNd ideOLOgICaL LIneS. coNspIRatorial thinkinG Is CorreLaTed wIth aNTiGoVernmENTAL orieNtATIons and a LoW seNsE of PoliTical eFfiCacy, wItH conSpiraCy believErs peRceIving a GovernmenTA.l THreat to indiviDUaL rIGhTs aNd dISplayiNg a dEep skEpticISM that Who oNe Votes for reaLly mATTeRs.AdAm M. endeRs "CONSpIratorial tHinkiNg AnD poLiticAl conSTRaint". PublIc opiniOn qUaRTerly 83.3 (2019): 510–533.