In their analysis, the researchers found no significant differences in conspiracy mentality between the autistic group and the general population. Both groups scored similarly, indicating that being autistic does not inherently affect one’s general susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs.

This finding suggests that conspiracy mentality is not linked with autism, contradicting two potential hypotheses the researchers explored: one that autism might increase susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs due to common experiences of social exclusion, and another that autism might offer a type of protection against these beliefs due to cognitive characteristics associated with autism, such as analytical thinking.

Link to the study:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13546805.2024.2399505#abstract

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 32 points 2 months ago (4 children)

I’m offended on behalf of autistic people that anyone considered this. Conspiracy nutters are largely disaffected and searching for an explanation for why they’re unhappy that frees them from responsibility.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago

Thank 4chan, they're the ones that call anything neurodivergent autistic.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

I had a very similar reaction honestly. There is value in the study so that we can say “no”. I do feel like there was extreme bias in the design of it though.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

It was worth checking out. I would have been curious.

[–] jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Consider as in check it out for thoroughness--no. It's fine.

Consider as in think/suspect--yeah. Yes.

[–] undergroundoverground@lemmy.world 25 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Not that surprising. Conspiracy theorists, imo, have a few key features

no matter how smart or stupid they might be, they always think they're far smarter than they actually are
thinks everyone else is an idiot
easy to wind up
will take a position, no matter how little info about it they have access to, and will never, ever back down from it no matter how ridiculous where they ended up may be
finds real life too boring

None of those are ASD

[–] jwiggler@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

Isolated (mis)information streams and the need to identify with an ingroup are the two biggest features to me.

[–] kitnaht@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago (3 children)

I think lead-poisoning mostly. Given that most conspiracy theorists are the older generation.

[–] jwiggler@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

At first I enjoyed the irony in this comment -- thinking the lead-poisoning myth is my type of conspiracy -- but it turns out, in a spectacularly non-conspiratorial way, researchers have shown correlation between lead exposure as a child and maladaptive personalities as an adult.

[–] kitnaht@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Lead poisoning isn't a myth. That's why its use was discontinued in fuels long ago. It's actually quite a well researched topic in the history of America.

[–] jwiggler@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I guess I should rephrase that -- I knew lead poisoning wasn't a myth, but I wasn't sure about the theory that lead-exposure is the reason for the apparent rise in anti-intellectualism/conspiratorial thinking in older generations

[–] kitnaht@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ah okay, apologies - I wasn't trying to be combative; just factual.

[–] jwiggler@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago

nah you're good you're good, no need to apologize

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Worse: this was known even when lead was still allowed in the environment. People just didn’t care.

[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

this has been my theory. Gun ranges, especially indoor ones are linked with extreme levels of lead vapor. Throw in a bit of narcissism and a lack of education and you have a recipe for a mental gymnast. Although I think QAA podcast has noted that like extreme surgery recovery drug cocktails/routine breaking seem to also be turning points in many people's journeys where they start to seek out conspiracies

[–] dustyData@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

Brain damage in general is my hypothesis. Repeated head trauma, toxic substances like drug abuse and heavy metals in general. Anything that damages brain tissue eventually disrupts the ability for rational thought in the mild end to disconnection with reality altogether in the most extreme cases of psychosis.

[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

its absolutely linked to narcissistic traits. Its not difficult to see.