Research Unit: Beyond Crazy—Integrating Benefits into the Analysis of Conspiracy Beliefs
Subproject: The Strategic Benefits of Conspiracy Theories for Political Communication
The Research Unit Beyond Crazy is funded by the German Research Foundation and brings together researchers from Socialpsychology, Mediapsychology and Communication Science across eight Universities. The Research Unit focusses on a question that has, so far, gotten comparatively little scientific attention: rather than focusing solely on the negative consequences of conspiracy theories and believing in them, the research unit will also investigate the functions such theories and beliefs may have for individuals, communicators, groups, and societies. By investigating the functionality of conspiracy theories and beliefs systematically, the unit aims to gain a better understanding of the popularity and appeal of conspiracy theories. The functionality perspective is to contribute to a more nuanced theoretical understanding of conspiracy beliefs and advance the methodological development of the field. Every subproject will work closely with the larger research unit and take part in external research stays, summer schools and other joint activities.
The subproject at SDU will focus specifically on the functionality of conspiracy theories for political communication. It will examine how and when conspiracy theories are communicated by which political actors, study how the media and the public respond to such content, and it will examine political communicators own perspective on conspiracy theories and those who share them. The project will include Lena Frischlich as the principal investigator, a PhD-student starting in 2027, as well as student assistants. The project also offers the possibility for students to join in the form of internships and elective courses. The project will also be closely embedded in the larger DDC environment. The project starts in April 2027 and will run for four years.
Research Unit
Subproject 1 tackles the development of conspiracy mentality during early adolescence. It is led byRoland Imhoff, Department of Social and Legal Psychology, University of Mainz, Germany (LINK: https://www.sozrepsy.uni-mainz.de/en/prof-dr-roland-imhoff/ ), who also serves as coordinator of the whole research unit.
Subproject 2 studies the relationship between conspiracy beliefs, political violence and political misbehaviors. It is led by Tobias Rothmund, Department of Communication, Psychology of Communication and Media Use, University of Jena, Germany (LINK: https://www.fsv.uni-jena.de/en/15410/prof-dr-tobias-rothmund)
Subproject 3 studies the strategic functionality of conspiracy theories in political communication. The project is led by Lena Frischlich, Digital Democracy Centre, University of Southern Denmark (LINK: https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/forskningsenheder/samf/digitaldemocracycentre/people/management/lena-frischlich)
Subproject 4 examines the interplay between social media and conspiracy theories. Stephan Winter, Department of Psychology, Chair of Media Psychology at the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany (LINK: https://psy.rptu.de/en/wus/ikm/media-psychology/team/prof-dr-stephan-winter)
Subproject 5 examines the role of entertainment for the processing and effects of conspiracy theories. The project is led by Diana Rieger, Department of Media and Communication, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Germany (LINK: https://www.sw.lmu.de/ifkw/en/department/people-contacts-and-organization/people-at-the-ifkw/contact-page/diana-rieger-fbd2cec1.html)
Subproject 6 focusses on positive emotions and their relationship to the functionality of conspiracy theories. Helen Landmann, University of Marburg, Germany serves as the principal investigator (LINK: http://www.helen-landmann.net/)
Subproject 7 addresses the functionality of conspiracy theories for regulating negative emotions. The project is led by Kai Sassenberg, Leibniz Institute for Psychology, Tübingen, Germany (LINK: https://leibniz-psychology.org/en/profile-kai-sassenberg) together with Lotte Pummerer (who also serves as PI of subproject 8).
Subproject 8 focusses on psychological function of conspiracy beliefs in the moral domain. The project is led by Lotte Pummerer, University of Mannheim, Germany (LINK: https://www.sowi.uni-mannheim.de/en/sozialpsychologie/team/academic-staff-members/dr-lotte-pummerer/)