A5040275786- Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Cultural Differences and Values
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Religion and Society Interactions
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Media Influence and Health
- Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
- Mental Health Research Topics
- Risk Perception and Management
- Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
- Ethics in Business and Education
University of Amsterdam
2015-2025
University of Essex
2023
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
2023
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2021
University of Rochester
2019
Cardiff University
2019
University of Dundee
2018
University of British Columbia
2012-2013
Many topics that scientists investigate speak to people's ideological worldviews. We report three studies-including an analysis of large-scale survey data-in which we systematically the antecedents general faith in science and willingness support science, as well skepticism climate change, vaccination, genetic modification (GM). The main predictors are religiosity political orientation, morality, understanding. Overall, understanding is associated with vaccine GM food acceptance, but not...
In the current paper, we argue that to get a better understanding of psychological antecedents COVID-related science skepticism, it is pivotal review what known about (social) psychology skepticism. Recent research highlighting role ideologies and worldviews in shaping skepticism can inform questions as well pandemic responses COVID-19. It likely general COVID-19-related substantially overlap with climate change Additionally, potential vaccine particular will be fueled by similar worries...
Efforts to understand and remedy the rejection of science are impeded by lack insight into how it varies in degree kind around world. The current work investigates skepticism 24 countries ( N = 5,973). Results show that while some stand out as generally high or low skepticism, predictors relatively similar across countries. One notable effect was consistent though stronger Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) nations: General faith predicted spirituality, suggesting...
Ambivalence is a presumably unpleasant experience, and coming to terms with it an intricate part of human existence. It argued that ambivalent attitude holders cope their ambivalence through compensatory perceptions order. We first show leads increase in (visual) order (Study 1). In Study 2 we conceptually replicate this finding by showing also increases belief conspiracy theories, cognitive form perception. Furthermore, effect mediated the negative emotions are elicited ambivalence. 3...
Recent work points to the heterogeneous nature of science skepticism. However, most research on skepticism has been conducted in United States. The current addresses generalizability knowledge acquired so far by investigating individuals from a Western European country (The Netherlands). Results indicate that various previously reported findings hold up: Mirroring North American patterns, climate change is associated with political conservatism (but only modestly), and scientific literacy...
Abstract Communicating the scientific consensus that human-caused climate change is real increases beliefs, worry and support for public action in United States. In this preregistered experiment, we tested two messages, a classic message on reality of an updated additionally emphasizing agreement crisis. Across online convenience samples from 27 countries ( n = 10,527), substantially reduces misperceptions d 0.47, 95% CI (0.41, 0.52)) slightly beliefs (from 0.06, (0.01, 0.11) to 0.10, (0.04,...
Abstract Anti-science movements brought more than public distrust in science. Perhaps even worryingly, these are also associated with instances of harassment of—and violence against—scientists. However, virtually nothing is known about individuals likely to harass or harm scientists. Across two pre-registered studies (total N = 749), we investigated the role worldviews (e.g., political ideology, conspiracy mentality, science cynicism), radicalization risk factors (relative deprivation and...
ABSTRACT In four experiments (three preregistered; N total = 4511), we investigated the influence of psychological distance to science (PSYDISC) on evaluations. PSYDISC reflects extent which is perceived as an (in)tangible undertaking conducted by people (dis)similar oneself ( social ), with effects in here (far away; spatial ) and now (in distant future; temporal (un)useful (in)applicable real world hypothetical ). Study 1, framing nanotechnology/genetic modification (GM) food...
Previous work showed that concrete experiences of weight influence people’s judgments how important certain issues are. In line with an embodied simulation account but contrary to a metaphor-enriched perspective, this shows perceived importance object influences perceptions weight. Two studies manipulated information about book’s importance, after which, participants estimated its Importance caused perceive the book be heavier. This was not merely semantic association, because were affected...
Stage theories are prominent and controversial in science. One possible reason for their appeal is that they provide order predictability. Participants Experiment 1 rated stage as more orderly predictable (but less credible) than continuum theories. In Experiments 2-5, we showed threats increase the of grief (Experiment 2) moral development (Experiments 4 5). 3 yielded similar results a theory on Alzheimer's disease characterized by decline, suggesting preference independent valence. effect...
Do people think that scientists are bad people? Although surveys find science is a highly respected profession, growing discourse has emerged regarding how often judged negatively. We report ten studies (N = 2328) investigated morality judgments of and compared those with various control groups, including atheists. A persistent intuitive association between disturbing immoral conduct for violations the binding moral foundations, particularly when this pertained to purity. However, there was...
In evolutionary approaches to religion it is argued that belief in supernatural agents strongly related a perceptual bias over-detect the presence of environment. We report five experiments investigate whether processing concepts about facilitates agency detection. Participants were presented with point-light stimuli representing unscrambled or scrambled biological motion, pictures faces, embedded noise mask. required indicate for each stimulus represented human agent not. Each trial was...
Although attitudinal conflict is a pervasive aspect of everyday decision-making, little known about the temporal dynamics that characterize how people experience and resolve such conflict. The present research investigated by adopting framework emergence resolution. We conducted preregistered sampling study in domain meat consumption employed novel integrated approach (of total 18,586 observations from 462 participants), achieving precise resolution throughout entire course natural...
The present research shows that belief in progress helps to alleviate the aversive experience of low levels control. When control is low, believing provides people with promise future a broader sense. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants lacking disagreed more an essay on illusory nature human progress. Experiment 3 corroborated these findings field study comparing airplane passengers nonairborne group. 4 assessed directly showed increased willingness invest specific fields progress-oriented...
Terror management theory argues that people can cope with the psychological threat of their own death by bolstering faith in cultural worldviews. Based on notion that—since Age Enlightenment—belief or progress has become one defining qualities modern Western thinking, we expected this belief serves as a buffer against mortality concerns. Three experiments were conducted to test relationship between existential anxiety and progress. Results Experiment 1 show salience increased participants'...
Abstract In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. The threat poses as well associated lockdown measures created challenging times for many. This study aimed to investigate individual and social factors with low mental health, particularly perceived measures, psychological well-being, sense of control. An online survey completed by participants (N = 8,229) recruited from 79 countries. line pre-registered hypotheses, showed elevated levels anxiety depression worldwide. poor health...
Vaccine hesitancy has taken global prominence with the rapid spread of COVID-19, but what factors are related to this considerable variation in vaccination rates globally? Three studies that encompass 195 unique regions from around world found relative spirituality and religiosity a region predict ongoing COVID-19 rates, such those higher and/or lower rates. In Study 1, data 23 globally were obtained, both negatively associated These effects held when applying two methods account for vaccine...