Beliefs about the nature of knowledge shape responses to the pandemic: Epistemic beliefs, the Dark Factor of Personality, and COVID‐19–related conspiracy ideation and behavior
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- Objective Global challenges such as climate change or the COVID‐19 pandemic have drawn public attention to conspiracy theories and citizens' non‐compliance to science‐based behavioral guidelines. We focus on individuals' worldviews about how one can and should construct reality (epistemic beliefs) to explain the endorsement of conspiracy theories and behavior during the COVID‐19 pandemic and propose the Dark Factor of Personality (D) as an antecedent of post‐truth epistemic beliefs. Method and Results This model is tested in fourObjective Global challenges such as climate change or the COVID‐19 pandemic have drawn public attention to conspiracy theories and citizens' non‐compliance to science‐based behavioral guidelines. We focus on individuals' worldviews about how one can and should construct reality (epistemic beliefs) to explain the endorsement of conspiracy theories and behavior during the COVID‐19 pandemic and propose the Dark Factor of Personality (D) as an antecedent of post‐truth epistemic beliefs. Method and Results This model is tested in four pre‐registered studies. In Study 1 (N = 321), we found first evidence for a positive association between D and post‐truth epistemic beliefs (Faith in Intuition for Facts, Need for Evidence, Truth is Political). In Study 2 (N = 453), we tested the model proper by further showing that post‐truth epistemic beliefs predict the endorsement of COVID‐19 conspiracies and disregarding COVID‐19 behavioral guidelines. Study 3 (N = 923) largely replicated these results at a later stage of the pandemic. Finally, in Study 4 (N = 513), we replicated the results in a German sample, corroborating their cross‐cultural validity. Interactions with political orientation were observed. Conclusion Our research highlights that epistemic beliefs need to be taken into account when addressing major challenges to humankind.…
Autor(en): | Jan Philipp Rudloff, Fabian Hutmacher, Markus Appel |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293793 |
Dokumentart: | Artikel / Aufsatz in einer Zeitschrift |
Institute der Universität: | Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften (Philos., Psycho., Erziehungs- u. Gesell.-Wissensch.) / Institut Mensch - Computer - Medien |
Sprache der Veröffentlichung: | Englisch |
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes / der Zeitschrift (Englisch): | Journal of Personality |
Erscheinungsjahr: | 2022 |
Band / Jahrgang: | 90 |
Heft / Ausgabe: | 6 |
Erste Seite: | 937 |
Letzte Seite: | 955 |
Originalveröffentlichung / Quelle: | Journal of Personality 2022, 90(6):937-955. DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12706 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12706 |
Allgemeine fachliche Zuordnung (DDC-Klassifikation): | 1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie |
Freie Schlagwort(e): | COVID‐19; Dark Factor of Personality; conspiracy theories; epistemic beliefs; post‐truth |
Datum der Freischaltung: | 30.06.2023 |
Lizenz (Deutsch): | CC BY-NC-ND: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung, Nicht kommerziell, Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International |