Generalized Dispositional Distrust as the Common Core of Populism and Conspiracy Mentality

Populism and beliefs in conspiracy theories fuel societal division as both rely on a Manichean us-versus-them, good-versus-evil narrative. However, whether constructs have the same dispositional roots is essentially unknown. Across three studies conducted two different countries using diverse samples (total N = 1,888), we show that populism mentality strong common core evidenced bifactor modeling. This was uniquely linked to (aversive) personality, namely Dark Factor of Personality (D), beyond basic personality traits from HEXACO Model Structure. The association between D core, turn, fully accounted for by distrust-related captured cynicism, dangerous competitive social worldviews, sensitivity befallen injustice, (low) trust propensity. Taken together, results shared psychological basis well described sociopolitically flavored manifestation generalized distrust. findings thus underscore value functioning suggest increasing may simultaneously combat theories.