Dr. Lotte Pummerer
@lpummerer.bsky.social
PostDoc political psychology - research and insights about conspiracy theories, societal transformation, social norms, morality.
Why are some people more prone to believe in conspiracy theories? Part of the answer may lie in metacognition, i.e., the ability to correctly estimate one's own knowledge about topics.
-> New paper with @kwinter.bsky.social, @kaisassenberg.bsky.social & Helen Fischer
🔗 doi.org/10.1080/2044...
-> New paper with @kwinter.bsky.social, @kaisassenberg.bsky.social & Helen Fischer
🔗 doi.org/10.1080/2044...
“Knowing what I don’t know” – belief in conspiracy theories relates to lower metacognitive sensitivity: a signal detection theoretic approach
Beliefs in conspiracy theories are seemingly hard to dispute through facts. Researchers have partly attributed this resistance to certain information processing styles that are associated with cons...
doi.org
October 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Why are some people more prone to believe in conspiracy theories? Part of the answer may lie in metacognition, i.e., the ability to correctly estimate one's own knowledge about topics.
-> New paper with @kwinter.bsky.social, @kaisassenberg.bsky.social & Helen Fischer
🔗 doi.org/10.1080/2044...
-> New paper with @kwinter.bsky.social, @kaisassenberg.bsky.social & Helen Fischer
🔗 doi.org/10.1080/2044...
After a short social media pause, I’m back — will share a few highlights and reflections from the past months within the next weeks.
October 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM
After a short social media pause, I’m back — will share a few highlights and reflections from the past months within the next weeks.
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
New article out in the Journal of Environmental Psychology led by @kwinter.bsky.social (with @lpummerer.bsky.social Matthew Hornsey & Timo von Oertzen) showing that conspiracy mentality and wind farm opposition mutually predict each other over time.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
New article out in the Journal of Environmental Psychology led by @kwinter.bsky.social (with @lpummerer.bsky.social Matthew Hornsey & Timo von Oertzen) showing that conspiracy mentality and wind farm opposition mutually predict each other over time.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Very excited to listen to Paula Wessel presenting the project by @lpummerer.bsky.social, Nadira Faber, Kevin Winter and myself today @ddc-sdu.bsky.social brown bag lunch series!
March 26, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Very excited to listen to Paula Wessel presenting the project by @lpummerer.bsky.social, Nadira Faber, Kevin Winter and myself today @ddc-sdu.bsky.social brown bag lunch series!
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Unfollowing toxic social media influencers makes people less hostile!
In 2 experiments, we found that unfollowing extreme influencers:
-Reduced partisan animosity by 24%
-Increased satisfaction with X
-Led people to share higher-quality news
Effects lasted for 6+ months.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In 2 experiments, we found that unfollowing extreme influencers:
-Reduced partisan animosity by 24%
-Increased satisfaction with X
-Led people to share higher-quality news
Effects lasted for 6+ months.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
October 8, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Unfollowing toxic social media influencers makes people less hostile!
In 2 experiments, we found that unfollowing extreme influencers:
-Reduced partisan animosity by 24%
-Increased satisfaction with X
-Led people to share higher-quality news
Effects lasted for 6+ months.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In 2 experiments, we found that unfollowing extreme influencers:
-Reduced partisan animosity by 24%
-Increased satisfaction with X
-Led people to share higher-quality news
Effects lasted for 6+ months.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
1/6 Just coming back from the interdisciplinary conference on "Perspectives on Knowledge Resistance". Cool to see how perspectives from philosophy, pol science, comm science & psychology compliment each other - esp when reaching similar conclusions from different angles 🧵
November 25, 2024 at 11:40 AM
1/6 Just coming back from the interdisciplinary conference on "Perspectives on Knowledge Resistance". Cool to see how perspectives from philosophy, pol science, comm science & psychology compliment each other - esp when reaching similar conclusions from different angles 🧵
New paper out, led by Kevin Winter, with @kaisassenberg.bsky.social and Matthew Hornsey on believing misinformation about wind farms. Biggest predictor is not education and science knowledge, but conspiracy mentality. Over 25% of respondents from US, UK, AUS agree with more than half of statements.
Excited to share our new publication led by @kwinter.bsky.social on "Public agreement with misinformation about wind farms", which results from a great collaboration with Matthew Hornsey & @lpummerer.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Public agreement with misinformation about wind farms - Nature Communications
Six surveys show substantial public agreement with misinformation about wind farms. Agreement with diverse contrarian claims is best predicted by participants’ worldviews, most notably the tendency to...
www.nature.com
October 21, 2024 at 8:19 AM
New paper out, led by Kevin Winter, with @kaisassenberg.bsky.social and Matthew Hornsey on believing misinformation about wind farms. Biggest predictor is not education and science knowledge, but conspiracy mentality. Over 25% of respondents from US, UK, AUS agree with more than half of statements.
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
#DGPS2024 with another conspiracy panel for me - in the first talk Lukasz Stasielowicz presents a meta-analysis (n = 60 samples) on interventions against conspiracy beliefs. He disentangled the average positive effects of interventions on reducing conspiracy beliefs
September 17, 2024 at 12:06 PM
#DGPS2024 with another conspiracy panel for me - in the first talk Lukasz Stasielowicz presents a meta-analysis (n = 60 samples) on interventions against conspiracy beliefs. He disentangled the average positive effects of interventions on reducing conspiracy beliefs
Haben Sie Menschen in Ihrem persönlichen Umfeld, die sich als „Reichsbürger*innen“ oder „Selbstverwalter*innen“ bezeichnen?
Die unten aufgeführte Studie (auch in Deutsch möglich) sucht noch Leute mit entsprechenden Erfahrungen, um bessere Hilfs- und Beratungsangebote zu schaffen.
Die unten aufgeführte Studie (auch in Deutsch möglich) sucht noch Leute mit entsprechenden Erfahrungen, um bessere Hilfs- und Beratungsangebote zu schaffen.
➡ Survey
Help us better understand anti-authority, anti-government, and/or sovereignist movements, beliefs, & ideologies.
We look forward to your participation & sharing our survey in your networks:
German Version: forms.office.com/r/nSfhRVf5ui
English Version: forms.office.com/r/a57GMCA4At
Help us better understand anti-authority, anti-government, and/or sovereignist movements, beliefs, & ideologies.
We look forward to your participation & sharing our survey in your networks:
German Version: forms.office.com/r/nSfhRVf5ui
English Version: forms.office.com/r/a57GMCA4At
July 30, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Haben Sie Menschen in Ihrem persönlichen Umfeld, die sich als „Reichsbürger*innen“ oder „Selbstverwalter*innen“ bezeichnen?
Die unten aufgeführte Studie (auch in Deutsch möglich) sucht noch Leute mit entsprechenden Erfahrungen, um bessere Hilfs- und Beratungsangebote zu schaffen.
Die unten aufgeführte Studie (auch in Deutsch möglich) sucht noch Leute mit entsprechenden Erfahrungen, um bessere Hilfs- und Beratungsangebote zu schaffen.
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Is partisan animosity a threat to democracy?
We find that political sectarianism (a blend of othering, aversion, and moralization toward opposing partisans), robustly predicts antidemocratic tendencies. In contrast, affective polarization does not! osf.io/preprints/ps...
We find that political sectarianism (a blend of othering, aversion, and moralization toward opposing partisans), robustly predicts antidemocratic tendencies. In contrast, affective polarization does not! osf.io/preprints/ps...
February 6, 2024 at 3:37 PM
Is partisan animosity a threat to democracy?
We find that political sectarianism (a blend of othering, aversion, and moralization toward opposing partisans), robustly predicts antidemocratic tendencies. In contrast, affective polarization does not! osf.io/preprints/ps...
We find that political sectarianism (a blend of othering, aversion, and moralization toward opposing partisans), robustly predicts antidemocratic tendencies. In contrast, affective polarization does not! osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
When people receive political campaign text messages from female-named volunteers, they are more offensive and silencing, but they are more likely to respond and agree to the ask, finds @alanyan.bsky.social @rivb.bsky.social in a great field experiment doi.org/10.1017/S000...
February 6, 2024 at 6:57 PM
When people receive political campaign text messages from female-named volunteers, they are more offensive and silencing, but they are more likely to respond and agree to the ask, finds @alanyan.bsky.social @rivb.bsky.social in a great field experiment doi.org/10.1017/S000...
Verschwörungstheorien behindern nicht nur Maßnahmen bei Pandemien, sondern auch die Energiewende. @kwinter.bsky.social und ich haben dazu einen Überblicksartikel im in-mind Magazin (@de.in-mind.org) geschrieben, editiert von @wilhelmhofmann.bsky.social und HLandmann
de.in-mind.org/article/der-...
de.in-mind.org/article/der-...
Der Kampf gegen Windmühlen: Wie Verschwörungstheorien den Klimaschutz behindern und was man dagege...
Verschwörungstheorien zum Klimawandel sind weit verbreitet. Menschen, die an sie glauben, zeigen weniger klimafreundliche Einstellungen und Verhaltensweisen. Es gibt aber auch Möglichkeiten, wie man...
de.in-mind.org
January 12, 2024 at 5:12 PM
Verschwörungstheorien behindern nicht nur Maßnahmen bei Pandemien, sondern auch die Energiewende. @kwinter.bsky.social und ich haben dazu einen Überblicksartikel im in-mind Magazin (@de.in-mind.org) geschrieben, editiert von @wilhelmhofmann.bsky.social und HLandmann
de.in-mind.org/article/der-...
de.in-mind.org/article/der-...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
New work with @rolandimhoff.bsky.social! ✨Victim groups have every right to reject an apology. However, if they do, it may impact their morality & power in the eyes of third parties, which is related to the support they receive. Now accepted at JPSP: IRGP. osf.io/preprints/ps...
December 15, 2023 at 5:52 PM
New work with @rolandimhoff.bsky.social! ✨Victim groups have every right to reject an apology. However, if they do, it may impact their morality & power in the eyes of third parties, which is related to the support they receive. Now accepted at JPSP: IRGP. osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Der Band "Psychologie der Verschwörungstheorien" ist fertig und vor einer Woche erschienen - Hurra! Ich als Herausgeber habe Exemplare, von denen ich drei gerne verschenke. Unter allen Reposts lose ich drei aus (wenn es mehr als drei sind) und schicke Euch das Buch per Post. Nur auf bluesky...
November 13, 2023 at 2:52 PM
Der Band "Psychologie der Verschwörungstheorien" ist fertig und vor einer Woche erschienen - Hurra! Ich als Herausgeber habe Exemplare, von denen ich drei gerne verschenke. Unter allen Reposts lose ich drei aus (wenn es mehr als drei sind) und schicke Euch das Buch per Post. Nur auf bluesky...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Postdoc opportunity:
Are you interested in research on bias reduction? Come to work with me in Trier (Germany)! International applications very welcome!!
leibniz-psychology.onlyfy.jobs/job/ki64gegu
Are you interested in research on bias reduction? Come to work with me in Trier (Germany)! International applications very welcome!!
leibniz-psychology.onlyfy.jobs/job/ki64gegu
Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d)
leibniz-psychology.onlyfy.jobs
November 10, 2023 at 7:12 PM
Postdoc opportunity:
Are you interested in research on bias reduction? Come to work with me in Trier (Germany)! International applications very welcome!!
leibniz-psychology.onlyfy.jobs/job/ki64gegu
Are you interested in research on bias reduction? Come to work with me in Trier (Germany)! International applications very welcome!!
leibniz-psychology.onlyfy.jobs/job/ki64gegu
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Safe the date! The fifth meeting of the German Political Psychology Network will be held at the University of Vienna on September 19-20, 2024. Please submit your abstracts to: univiepsy.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... (Deadline January 31, 2024)
November 9, 2023 at 8:27 PM
Safe the date! The fifth meeting of the German Political Psychology Network will be held at the University of Vienna on September 19-20, 2024. Please submit your abstracts to: univiepsy.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... (Deadline January 31, 2024)
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
New team effort lead by Anna Soveri. we examined if trait reactance measured before the pandemic was related to willingness to get vaccinated up to 2 years later. We also tested whether trait reactance makes anti-vaccination attitudes more resistant to information.
doi.org/10.1111/aphw...
doi.org/10.1111/aphw...
Trait reactance as psychological motivation to reject vaccination: Two longitudinal studies and one ...
Anti-science attitudes can be resilient to scientific evidence if they are rooted in psychological motives. One such motive is trait reactance, which refers to the need to react with opposition when ....
doi.org
November 9, 2023 at 5:57 PM
New team effort lead by Anna Soveri. we examined if trait reactance measured before the pandemic was related to willingness to get vaccinated up to 2 years later. We also tested whether trait reactance makes anti-vaccination attitudes more resistant to information.
doi.org/10.1111/aphw...
doi.org/10.1111/aphw...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
When you discover new effects using preregistration, high power, & replicate faithfully with open materials, you get a replication rate of 86% & effect sizes 97% as big!
Our new published paper with so many wonderful researchers:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our new published paper with so many wonderful researchers:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 9, 2023 at 4:11 PM
When you discover new effects using preregistration, high power, & replicate faithfully with open materials, you get a replication rate of 86% & effect sizes 97% as big!
Our new published paper with so many wonderful researchers:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our new published paper with so many wonderful researchers:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
In our new Bioethics paper we find that people deem moral behaviour helped by biological means (e.g. pills that increase empathy) less worth praising than moral behaviour that is achieved via more effortful means. #philsky #PsychSciSky #socialpsyc onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
How moral bioenhancement affects perceived praiseworthiness
Bioethics is a medical ethics journal that combines biomedical & social sciences to tackle the moral aspects of topics such as organ transplants, ageing, & stem cells.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 9, 2023 at 7:19 PM
In our new Bioethics paper we find that people deem moral behaviour helped by biological means (e.g. pills that increase empathy) less worth praising than moral behaviour that is achieved via more effortful means. #philsky #PsychSciSky #socialpsyc onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Himmel über Heidelberg - nur einer von vielen Eindrücken vom @nawik.de- Seminar über Wissenschaftskommunikation. Kurz, einfach, lebendig und strukturiert sollen die Texte sein - gut, sich immer wieder darin zu versuchen.
Danke, @hannocharisius.bsky.social & Klaus Wingen für den Input, und der KTS
Danke, @hannocharisius.bsky.social & Klaus Wingen für den Input, und der KTS
November 7, 2023 at 6:34 PM
Himmel über Heidelberg - nur einer von vielen Eindrücken vom @nawik.de- Seminar über Wissenschaftskommunikation. Kurz, einfach, lebendig und strukturiert sollen die Texte sein - gut, sich immer wieder darin zu versuchen.
Danke, @hannocharisius.bsky.social & Klaus Wingen für den Input, und der KTS
Danke, @hannocharisius.bsky.social & Klaus Wingen für den Input, und der KTS
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
Over >10 years Annika Scholl, Naomi Ellemers, Daan Scheepers, and I have researched the construal of social power. All materials we have used over the years are available here: doi.org/10.23668/psy.... For a summary of the research see dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.a...
Construal of Power as Opportunity vs. Responsibility: Review and Summary of Measures and Manipulatio...
doi.org
November 7, 2023 at 6:01 PM
Over >10 years Annika Scholl, Naomi Ellemers, Daan Scheepers, and I have researched the construal of social power. All materials we have used over the years are available here: doi.org/10.23668/psy.... For a summary of the research see dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.a...
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
PSA: there are now normal lists on Bluesky like on Twitter (i.e. not for muting), where you can add some people you want to follow, and you can pin such list and it becomes a feed. So you don't need SkyFeed to create simple feeds that just include posts from a list of people 👍
November 6, 2023 at 9:49 PM
PSA: there are now normal lists on Bluesky like on Twitter (i.e. not for muting), where you can add some people you want to follow, and you can pin such list and it becomes a feed. So you don't need SkyFeed to create simple feeds that just include posts from a list of people 👍
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
The Elon Effect (but not the one you're thinking of): Showing Republicans Musk's pro-environmental stances increases their climate beliefs and intended actions, with no backfire effect on attitudes towards Musk, finds @rorchinik.bsky.social @dgrand.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/v9mzk/
osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/v9mzk/
November 3, 2023 at 3:17 PM
The Elon Effect (but not the one you're thinking of): Showing Republicans Musk's pro-environmental stances increases their climate beliefs and intended actions, with no backfire effect on attitudes towards Musk, finds @rorchinik.bsky.social @dgrand.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/v9mzk/
osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/v9mzk/
Reposted by Dr. Lotte Pummerer
I propose all journals make the initial submissions open format.
They can require formatting changes at the revision stage.
This would save millions of wasted hours and remove one of the most mind numbingly stupid aspects of academia.
We also have the power to easily change this.
They can require formatting changes at the revision stage.
This would save millions of wasted hours and remove one of the most mind numbingly stupid aspects of academia.
We also have the power to easily change this.
I just spent three hours reformatting a paper for submission after it sent back on technical grounds. Why do we do this to ourselves? Journals outside of political science often require formatting compliance only after acceptance. Stop the torture! Polisky
November 4, 2023 at 3:03 PM
I propose all journals make the initial submissions open format.
They can require formatting changes at the revision stage.
This would save millions of wasted hours and remove one of the most mind numbingly stupid aspects of academia.
We also have the power to easily change this.
They can require formatting changes at the revision stage.
This would save millions of wasted hours and remove one of the most mind numbingly stupid aspects of academia.
We also have the power to easily change this.