Changing Conceptions of ConspiracyCarl F. Graumann, Serge Moscovici The contents of the first two volumes were, we gladly admit, at once more familiar and easier to handle. We were concerned with mass and leadership psychology, two factors that we know from social and political life. They have been much studied and we can clearly trace their evolution. However, since actions by masses and leaders also have an intellectual and emotional side, we were obliged, in some way or other, to deal with this topic as well. It was obviously necessary, it seemed to us, to approach this study from a new and significant angle. One cannot escape the realiza tion that "conspiracy theory" has played, and continues to play, a central role in our epoch, and has had very serious consequences. The obsession with conspiracy has spread to such an extent that it continuously crops up at all levels of society. The fol lowing paradox must be striking to anyone: In the past, society was governed by a small number of men, at times by one individual, who, within traditional limits, imposed his will on the multitude. Plots were effective: By eliminating these individuals and their families, one could change the course of events. Today, this is no longer the case. Power is divided among parties and extends throughout society. Power flows, changes hands, and affects opinion, which no one controls and no one represents entirely. |
Contents
Conspiracy Theory Constructs in the Science of History | |
The Conspirations of Rebellious Peasants in the 17th | |
The First Fabrication of | |
The Secular Boom Infects a Representative of a Structural | |
ManEating and the Myths of the New world | |
References | |
References | |
References | |
The Conspiracy Mentality and Resentment | |
References | |
Paranoic Conspiracy Delusion as a Local and Partial | |
Natural Obviousness Trust Cooperation and Division of Labor | |
Conspiracy Theory | |
Conclusions | |
Heiders Naive Psychology of Interpersonal Relations | |
The Conspiratorial Imperium | |
References | |
References | |
AntiSemitism and Nazism | |
Social Conflict and Conspiracy in Nuremberg 1789 | |
The Attribution Paradigm in Social Psychology | |
Extremist Political Positions and Perceptions | |
Conclusion | |
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18th century accused actions alleged anti-Semitism appear argument attribution become behavior belief Bodin cannibalism cathected cathexis causality cause Christian cognitive collective representations conceptions concerning conflict conspiracy mentality conspiracy theory conspiratorial conspirators constitute Council crimes crisis culture defensive structure delusion described Devil diabolical economic enemy European evil example existence explain fact fascism France Freemasons French Freud German Groh Heider Henri Boguet Holocaust human Ichheiser ideological Indians individual Jewish Question Jews Judaism Lancre logic London Malleus Maleficarum Marx means medieval minority Moscovici motives myths nation nature Nazis Nazism Norman Cohn Nuremberg Nürnberg objects one’s Oviedo Palestinian Paris party patrician pattern perception persecution person Pierre de Lancre political Postmaterialists reality religion result revolution revolutionary Russian Sabbath Satan sense Sixel social psychology Socialist Socialist Standard society solidarity Staden strikes subjective theme tradition victims witchcraft witches withdrawal of cathexis wrote York Zionism