Sense of control and conspiracy perceptions: Generative directions on a well-worn path

We review recent research on the well-established relationship between sense of control and conspiracy perceptions, identifying challenges and promising new directions. First, we examine recent efforts to distinguish sense of control from adjacent but confounding psychological constructs (including uncertainty, threat, and powerlessness). Second, we discuss the limitations of experimentally manipulating sense of control and the trend toward natural experiments. Finally, we consider boundary conditions that moderate the relationship and clarify the types of conspiracy perceptions that sense of control predicts. By integrating past findings to more precisely define sense of control and its effects on cognition, we hope to identify productive avenues for future research.