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Chapter 6 - Emotions and the QAnon Conspiracy Theory

from Part II - Recruiting and Maintaining Followers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2023

By
Elena Bessarabova  and
John A. Banas
Edited by
Monica K. Miller
Monica K. Miller
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
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Summary

Emotions have profound consequences for human functioning. Their influences can be adaptive, guiding people through life and ensuring effective functionality within society, but emotions can also result in irrationality and bias. This chapter focuses on the role of emotion in conspiratorial beliefs, using the QAnon conspiracy theory as an example. Within the chapter, we discuss affective factors that make QAnon appealing to its followers and the role of discrete emotions in the spread of misinformation and conspiratorial beliefs. The chapter also examines the influence of emotions on information processing. Given QAnon supporters’ strong emotional involvement in the movement, we discuss affective influences on information processing through the lens of affective polarization. In addition, we explain how emotions, particularly anger, influence the propensity towards extreme and sometimes violent action that has been on the rise among the followers of QAnon. The chapter concludes with a discussion of potential mitigating variables and strategies that might curb proliferation of QAnon.

Keywords

emotionsfearangeranxietyconspiracyQAnonpositive affectnegative affectaffective polarizationmisinformationmisperceptionsactivism
Type
Chapter
Information
The Social Science of QAnon
A New Social and Political Phenomenon
 , pp. 87 - 103
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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