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Chapter 4 - Cognitive Processes, Biases, and Traits That Fuel QAnon

from Part II - Recruiting and Maintaining Followers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2023

By
Arial R. Meyer  and
Monica K. Miller
Edited by
Monica K. Miller
Monica K. Miller
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
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Summary

Much effort has been spent trying to determine who ‘Q’ is, yet little is known about the characteristics of who follows ‘Q’ and QAnon. This chapter discusses the cognitive processes, cognitive biases, and traits (e.g., beliefs and individual characteristics) possibly associated with QAnon followers. Cognitive processes such as delusional ideation, teleological thinking, cognitive closure, and Pierre’s (2020) socio-epistemic model are examined in the context of QAnon followers, along with a variety of cognitive biases (e.g., groupthink, confirmation bias, jumping to conclusions bias). Additionally, traits such as being racist (e.g., holding anti-Black and anti-Semitic attitudes), narcissism, Machiavellianism, and political affiliations are possible common traits among QAnon followers. A brief discussion of how QAnon is similar or different from other groups (e.g., conspiracy or religious groups) is offered, along with some research questions for future study about QAnon specifically. This understanding is crucial, especially as QAnon followers are gaining political power and agency.

Keywords

QAnonconspiracy theoristscognitive processestraitsbiases
Type
Chapter
Information
The Social Science of QAnon
A New Social and Political Phenomenon
 , pp. 49 - 67
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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