2.3.1. Perceived Risk
In conspiracy theory research, beliefs in conspiracy theories are occurred under uncertainty and randomness which are related to social crises and risks [45,46]. Societal crisis situations increase beliefs in conspiracy theories because the unpleasant feelings that people experience when in crisis—fear, uncertainty, and a lack of control—motivate them to make sense of the situation, increasing the likelihood that they perceive conspiracies in social situations [41]. Uncontrollable danger from a personal perspective reinforces beliefs in conspiracy theories. Based on a dangerous worldview scale, Hart and Graether [29] show that people who report greater beliefs in conspiracy theories tend to hold more dangerous world beliefs.
Believing a conspiracy theory gives an individual a sense of security by lowering uncertainty. Earnshaw et al. [2] explain that conspiracy theories satisfy an existential motive by helping people feel safe in their environments; individuals are more likely to believe conspiracy theories when they feel anxious, powerless, and unable to control their outcomes. Similarly, people who view the world as dangerous and uncontrollable may assuage their anxiety through conspiracy theories [29].
Hypothesis 6 (H6).   Perceived risk is positively related to beliefs in conspiracy theories.