Racialized Pandemic: The Effect of Racial Attitudes on COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

• DOI: 10.3389/fpos.2022.648061
• Publication Date: 2022-03-24T01:23:56Z
• Authors: Christina E. Farhart; Philip Gordon Chen
• Keywords: Resentment; Misinformation; Disinformation

As national and international health agencies rushed to respond the global spread of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as COVID-19), one challenge these organizations faced was misinformation conspiracy theories about virus. Troublingly, much couched in racialized language, particularly regarding source virus responsibility for its spread, fostering development related theories. Media coverage theories, early on pandemic, had negative impacts individuals' engagement protective behaviors concern with COVID-19. From extant work, racial resentment white identity have been shown be deeply woven into fabric contemporary American politics, affecting perceptions public opinion even after accounting social political identities. While attitudes less studied relation theory belief, we expect affect compliance COVID-19 belief. Using observational experimental survey data ( N = 1,045), quota-sampled through Lucid Theorem (LT) spring 2020, demonstrate that framing language alters endorsement contingent upon levels find higher belief decreased preventative measures.