Intergroup conspiracy theories, leadership styles and uncertainty during the pandemic: Effects on moral leadership and identification with leaders and the moderating role of right-wing authoritarianism

Conspiracies about domestic governments or foreign countries have dominated the public sphere during the COVID-19 pandemic. Political leaders currently face major challenges, and are portrayed either as conspirators or as targets of conspiracies from other competing countries. In this research, we investigate (a) the effects of group orientation of conspiracy theories, leadership style and uncertainty on perceived moral leadership and identification with the leader; (b) the moderating role of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) in the association between group orientation of conspiracy theories and moral leadership and identification with the leader. We predicted a three-way interaction between uncertainty, group orientation of conspiracy theories and leadership style on perceived moral leadership and identification with the leader. We also predicted a significant moderation of RWA on the association between group orientation of conspiracy theories and perceived moral leadership and identification with the leader. Deploying a 2 (high vs low uncertainty) x 2 (democratic vs despotic leader) x 2 (in-group vs outgroup conspiracy theory) design (N=480), we found that both orientation of conspiracy theories and leadership style affected moral leadership and identification with the leader, while no effects of uncertainty emerged. Moreover, outgroup orientation of conspiracy positively and significantly predicted perceived moral leadership and identification with the leader only for high level of RWA. Discussion focuses on the intergroup element of conspiracy theories in leadership practices amidst global crises.