In an age where conspiracy theories can spread like wildfire across the internet, a recent study debunks one persistent myth: autism neither predisposes individuals to believe in conspiracies nor offers protection against these beliefs.
The study, published in Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, found that autistic adults have conspiracy mentalities comparable to those in the general population—a finding that sheds new light on how different cognitive profiles intersect with a complex belief system.
“Initially, we were interested in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic individuals,” study co-author Sanne Roels explained to PsyPost. “During the pandemic, new conspiracy theories arose (e.g., regarding vaccinations), and we wanted to examine whether autistic individuals were more prone to endorse conspiracy theories or were more protected against conspiracy thinking due to their enhanced rationality.”
Conspiracy theories have become increasingly prevalent, permeating discussions of politics, public health, and social issues. Often considered a product of psychological or emotional vulnerabilities, conspiracy beliefs have long intrigued researchers, sparking theories about what makes specific individuals more susceptible than others.
The study by researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam aimed to investigate whether autistic adults, who typically exhibit unique cognitive styles and social experiences, would be more or less inclined toward conspiracy beliefs than non-autistic individuals.
Previous research has suggested two opposing possibilities. The first hypothesis, termed “autism as a risk factor,” posits that social isolation, stigma, and anxiety commonly experienced by autistic individuals might foster a conspiracy mentality. These experiences can lead to feelings of marginalization, creating fertile ground for conspiratorial thinking, which often explains perceived injustices or hidden forces shaping one’s circumstances. This view aligns with the notion that conspiracy beliefs are more common among marginalized groups.
On the other hand, the “autism as a protective factor” hypothesis suggests that autism’s hallmark analytic cognitive style—emphasizing logic and systematic thinking—might deter individuals from falling prey to conspiracy theories, which often appeal to more intuitive or emotion-driven thinking.
Autistic individuals, the argument goes, might be less inclined to accept conspiratorial explanations without evidence, rendering them less susceptible than the general population.
To explore these conflicting hypotheses, researchers designed a study to compare two groups from a significant sample size, including one group of 682 autistic adults and 4,358 non-autistic participants from the general Dutch population.
Participants’ conspiracy mentality was assessed using the Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire (CMQ), a tool designed to gauge an individual’s general tendency to believe in conspiracy theories.
Alongside conspiracy mentality, the study measured demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and ethnicity to control for potential confounding variables. Previous research has shown that younger age, lower education, and male gender may be associated with higher conspiracy beliefs.
The participants represented diverse backgrounds, though some demographic differences emerged. The autistic sample tended to be younger, included more women, and had fewer individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds than the general sample. By accounting for these factors in their analysis, the researchers could more accurately compare conspiracy mentality levels between the two groups.
After controlling for demographic variables, the researchers found no significant difference in conspiracy mentality between autistic and non-autistic individuals. Autistic adults scored similarly to their non-autistic counterparts on the CMQ, indicating that neither autism nor autistic traits like pattern recognition and analytic thinking made participants more or less prone to conspiracy beliefs.
To confirm these findings, the researchers conducted additional analyses to test for small effects and differences within the autistic sample itself. These analyses revealed that traits associated with autism, such as a focus on patterns and reduced imaginative thinking, did not strongly predict a conspiracy mentality.
The implications of these findings reach beyond just the autistic community. In recent years, conspiracy theories have become increasingly visible and influential, with potential negative consequences for public health, social cohesion, and political stability.
Understanding who is most susceptible to such beliefs and why is crucial for developing interventions and educational strategies that promote critical thinking and resilience against misinformation.
This study underscores that conspiracy beliefs are more widespread and less predictable than previously thought. As the authors note, conspiracy beliefs can be found in people from all walks of life, challenging the notion that specific cognitive profiles, such as those commonly associated with autism, are inherently more vulnerable to or immune from conspiratorial thinking.
The findings challenge stereotypes that have persisted for years, especially the misconception that autism inherently predisposes individuals toward paranoia or conspiracy beliefs.
Instead, researchers suggest that the findings highlight the importance of viewing autistic people as individuals rather than through the lens of generalized assumptions about their cognitive or social tendencies.
For autistic individuals, who often face stigma and social barriers, these findings are a reminder of the importance of countering harmful narratives with data-backed insights.
Though the study was thorough, the authors also acknowledged some limitations, notably that the investigation focused only on general conspiracy mentality rather than specific conspiracy beliefs.
It’s possible, they suggest, that while general beliefs about hidden forces or motives remain consistent across groups, certain conspiratorial narratives could appeal more to particular subsets of the population, including those with autism, depending on personal experiences or cultural context.
Future research might examine how other factors, such as mental health, influence conspiracy mentality in clinical populations beyond autism. Moreover, while this study controlled for age, gender, and education, additional research might explore how these and other socioeconomic factors shape beliefs within specific groups.
In a world where misinformation often thrives, this study offers a crucial reminder: rather than assuming a predisposition, it is essential to approach conspiracy beliefs—and those who hold them—with a nuanced understanding that transcends stereotypes and simplistic explanations.
“The key takeaway (based on a very large sample of autistic and general population individuals) is that autistic people are no more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than the general population,” Roels explained. “Autism doesn’t make someone prone to conspiracy mentality, challenging misconceptions that may link autism to such beliefs. Also, autism was no safeguard against conspiracy mentality.”
Tim McMillan is a retired law enforcement executive, investigative reporter and co-founder of The Debrief. His writing typically focuses on defense, national security, the Intelligence Community and topics related to psychology. You can follow Tim on Twitter: @LtTimMcMillan. Tim can be reached by email: tim@thedebrief.org or through encrypted email: LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com