{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]],"date-time":"2026-05-29T22:28:09Z","timestamp":1780093689644,"version":"3.54.0"},"reference-count":72,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754265600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004543","name":"China Scholarship Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004543","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["British J of Psychology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    This research investigates the cognitive mechanisms linking health\u2010related existential threats to conspiracy beliefs within a Chinese context. Study 1 (\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009199) demonstrated that the relationship between perceived existential threats and outgroup conspiracy beliefs is mediated by hypersensitive agency detection through an experimental manipulation involving a monkeypox virus threat. Studies 2a (\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009198) and 2b (\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009200) revealed that illusory pattern perception also mediates this relationship. In Study 3 (\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009278, using a manipulation of threatening information about genetically modified foods) and in Study 4 (\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009296, using information about Japan's discharge of nuclear sewage), both hypersensitive agency detection and illusory pattern perception mediated this relationship. Additional mini\u2010meta\u2010analyses further corroborated these findings. We conclude that the effects of existential threats on outgroup conspiracy beliefs are mediated by hypersensitive agency detection and illusory pattern perception.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/bjop.70016","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,5]],"date-time":"2025-08-05T06:34:09Z","timestamp":1754375649000},"page":"130-154","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Why existential threats increase conspiracy beliefs: Evidence for the mediating roles of agency detection and pattern perception"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"117","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7598-0870","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jia\u2010Yan","family":"Mao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology VU Amsterdam  Amsterdam The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhao\u2010Xie","family":"Zeng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology Nanjing Normal University  Nanjing China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shen\u2010Long","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Social Psychology School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University  Xi'an China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yong\u2010Yu","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology Nanjing Normal University  Nanjing China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bo","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology VU Amsterdam  Amsterdam The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6236-0819","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan\u2010Willem","family":"van Prooijen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology VU Amsterdam  Amsterdam The Netherlands"},{"name":"The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)  Amsterdam The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Criminal Law and Criminology Maastricht University  Maastricht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_16_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/spc3.12371"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5334\/irsp.469"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/pops.70003"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/01461672241292841"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/19485506221113965"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.5040\/9798216409243","volume-title":"Why would anyone believe in god?","author":"Barrett J. L.","year":"2004"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000463"},{"issue":"1994","key":"e_1_2_16_9_1","first-page":"91","article-title":"Seeing things: Visual recognition and belief in the paranormal","volume":"10","author":"Blackmore S.","year":"1994","journal-title":"European Journal of Parapsychology"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000392"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jesp.2021.104245"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3758\/s13428\u2010013\u20100361\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/bjop.12158"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_14_1","volume-title":"Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences","author":"Cohen J.","year":"1988"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0146167299251100"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0279720"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev\u2010psych\u2010032420\u2010031329"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13546783.2015.1051586"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0963721417718261"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3758\/BRM.41.4.1149"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/bjop.12430"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/acp.3844"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0275502"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780195069013.001.0001"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/20416695221144732"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1416950"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s44159\u2010022\u201000133\u20100"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2022.101391"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1163\/156853703322336634"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-540-85436-4_10"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/pops.12404"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/01461672211060965"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/2153599X.2017.1362662"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/09637214241280742"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/18344909211057001"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/pops.12924"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socec.2014.12.001"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5861\/ijrsp.2013.446"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21500\/20112084.642"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598\u2010023\u201036230\u20100"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1027\/2151\u20102604\/a000533"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_42_1","first-page":"162","volume-title":"A new science of religion","author":"Nola R.","year":"2014"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/a0018301"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0146167219898944"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327957pspr1004_4"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1948550617715068"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/scientificamerican0711-85"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2017.10.026"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ejsp.2690"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cognition.2014.08.006"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.ps.33.020182.000245"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11211\u2010007\u20100035\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/acprof:oso\/9780199351800.001.0001"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0956797613501884"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/10478400903333411"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1525\/collabra.155"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/a0036099"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1027\/1016\u20109040\/a000381"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_59_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11211\u2010021\u201000376\u2010x"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_60_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/acp.3161"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_61_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1750698017701615"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_62_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ejsp.2331"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/bjop.12471"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_64_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jesp.2014.06.006"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_65_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691618774270"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_66_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/sjop.12962"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_67_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S193029750000334X"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_68_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691610369336"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_69_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/01461672992512005"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_70_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1159845"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_71_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/bjso.12689"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_72_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/a0036816"},{"key":"e_1_2_16_73_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2024.102363"}],"container-title":["British Journal of Psychology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/bjop.70016","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T05:52:11Z","timestamp":1767937931000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/bjop.70016"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]},"references-count":72,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/bjop.70016"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/bjop.70016","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0007-1269","2044-8295"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0007-1269","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-8295","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-01-16","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-07-21","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-08-04","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}