Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cognitive Style Predictors of the Generality of Unsubstantiated Belief

Autor/inn/en	Bensley, D. Alan; Watkins, Cody; Lilienfeld, Scott O.; Masciocchi, Christopher; Murtagh, Michael P.; Rowan, Krystal
Titel	Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cognitive Style Predictors of the Generality of Unsubstantiated Belief
Quelle	In: Applied Cognitive Psychology, 36 (2022) 1, S.83-99 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Bensley, D. Alan)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0888-4080
DOI	10.1002/acp.3900
Schlagwörter	Beliefs; Trust (Psychology); Negative Attitudes; Cognitive Style; Predictor Variables; Misconceptions; Scientific Concepts; Individual Differences; Adoption (Ideas); Correlation + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Belief; Glaube; Negative Fixierung; Cognitive styles; Kognitiver Stil; Prädiktor; Missverständnis; Individueller Unterschied; Ideas; Ideenfindung; Korrelation
Abstract	In three samples (Ns = 286, 304, and 273), we found that endorsement of conspiracy theories, paranormal beliefs, and psychological misconceptions were all positively intercorrelated, supporting an individual difference in the tendency to generally endorse unsubstantiated claims. Multiple regression analyses further supported generality, showing that intuitive cognitive style positively predicted all three types of unsubstantiated beliefs in all samples, except conspiracy theory belief in the third sample, while rational-analytic cognitive style was a less consistent predictor. Unexpectedly, in all samples, a new measure of cynicism was a significant, positive predictor of all three unsubstantiated beliefs (not only conspiracy theory belief as predicted). Although general skeptical attitude did not predict any unsubstantiated belief measure, a new measure of scientific skepticism negatively predicted both paranormal and conspiracy theory belief. Discussion centers on whether cynicism and scientific skepticism should be added to dual-process accounts of the tendency to generally accept unsubstantiated claims. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01