Lo studio rileva un forte legame tra credenze cospirative, antisemitismo e atteggiamenti anti-israeliani

A new study conducted by researchers at Rutgers University, Newark has uncovered a strong correlation between belief in conspiracy theories, antisemitic attitudes, and negative views toward Israel. Published in American Psychologist, the research led by psychologist Kent Harber suggests that these attitudes are deeply interconnected, with conspiracy beliefs acting as a key factor linking antisemitism to hostility toward Israel. The study, based on data collected from over 1,000 adults across the United States, examined how individuals' perceptions of conspiracies involving Jews and Israel influence their broader attitudes toward both groups. Participants were asked to respond to a series of questions designed to assess their levels of antisemitism, support for Israel, and belief in specific conspiracy theories. The sample group reflected the demographic diversity of the U.S., encompassing different races, ethnicities, religions, and political leanings. The average age of participants ranged from 32 to 40 years. Harber’s research builds upon a documented increase in antisemitic incidents globally since the early 2010s, including violent acts targeting Jewish communities in the U.S. and other regions. These trends coincided with rising hostility toward Israel, particularly following major geopolitical events such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing situation in Gaza. Harber noted that while criticism of Israel is not always antisemitic, the presence of conspiracy beliefs significantly amplifies the likelihood of antisemitic attitudes emerging. In one of the study’s components, participants were exposed to standardized measures of antisemitism, including items from the Selznick and Steinberg antisemitism scale, which has been widely used in academic research since 1969. Statements such as “Jewish people make too much of a big deal about being oppressed” and “You can tell if people are Jewish by how they look” were among those evaluated. Another part of the study focused on anti-Israel sentiment, using a modified version of the Middle East Opinion Survey, which includes statements that attribute harmful intentions to Israel. Researchers also introduced fabricated conspiracy theories to test how such ideas might influence participants’ attitudes. Examples included claims like “Israel created COVID-19 as a weapon against Palestine” and “Israel started the war in Gaza to summon the coming of a Jewish Messiah.” These statements were crafted to reflect common conspiracy narratives surrounding Israel and its relationship with Jewish communities. Findings revealed that classic antisemitism, defined as prejudice against Jews independent of their association with Israel, was strongly correlated with anti-Israel attitudes. However, the strongest link was observed between antisemitism, belief in conspiracy theories, and hostility toward Israel. According to Harber, conspiracy beliefs accounted for more than 55% of the variance in anti-Israel attitudes across all three studies, indicating a substantial role in shaping these views. Harber emphasized that not all opposition to Israel equates to antisemitism, and that legitimate critiques of Israeli policies should not be conflated with antisemitic behavior. Nevertheless, the study highlights how misinformation and conspiracy thinking can contribute to hostile attitudes toward both Jews and Israel. The research underscores the need for increased public awareness regarding the psychological dynamics that underpin these complex social phenomena. Moving forward, Harber and his colleagues plan to explore the long-term effects of these attitudes and how they might evolve in response to changing political and social landscapes. Their work adds to a growing body of research examining the intersection of ideology, misinformation, and prejudice in contemporary society.