Conspiracy Theory Beliefs and Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Biases.

Authors

Maia Mestvirishvili

Published in

International journal of psychological research. Volume 19. Issue 1. Pages 35-42. Epub Jun 04, 2026.

Abstract

this study investigates the relationship between conspiracy theory beliefs and tendency for interpersonal victimhood, and the mediating role of cognitive biases.
A sample of 245 Georgian nationals (67% female; M age = 28.38 years) completed validated measures of conspiracist ideation (GCB), dysfunctional cognitive biases (DACOBS), and tendency for interpersonal victimhood (TIV).
Hierarchical regression and parallel mediation analyses (PROCESS Model 4) confirmed that conspiracy beliefs significantly predict TIV (β = .381), and that attention to threat and external attribution bias partially mediate this relationship.
Endorsement of conspiracy theories may engender a chronic sense of interpersonal victimhood through specific cognitive pathways, with practical implications for psychoeducational and therapeutic intervention.

PMID:
42774033
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 23 Sep 2026.

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