Trust in scientists, risk perception, conspiratorial beliefs, and unrealistic optimism: A network approach to investigating the psychological underpinnings of COVID-19 vaccination intentions

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Standard

Trust in scientists, risk perception, conspiratorial beliefs, and unrealistic optimism: A network approach to investigating the psychological underpinnings of COVID-19 vaccination intentions. / Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador; Martinez-Conde, Susana; Dolinski, Dariusz et al.
In: Social Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 17, e7807, 12.10.2022.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Harvard

APA

Vancouver

Bibtex

@article{7e6ffb23d85041d78471505aa4453845,
title = "Trust in scientists, risk perception, conspiratorial beliefs, and unrealistic optimism: A network approach to investigating the psychological underpinnings of COVID-19 vaccination intentions",
abstract = "Using a network approach, we addressed in two studies interrelations among potential antecedents of vaccine intentions, related to both COVID-19 risk perception and epistemic beliefs (i.e., trust in scientists and conspiracy beliefs). In Study 1 and 2, we assessed a US (N = 994) and an international sample (N = 902) during spring and summer 2020. The network analysis reveals a complex interplay of factors where trust in scientists, the closest predictor of vaccine intention, is associated with conspiracy beliefs and danger perception. Furthermore, we found evidence for unrealistic optimism, with participants perceiving the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 as lower compared to the risk they attributed to other people. However, this bias was not associated with vaccine intention. Study 2 corroborated these results. The results call for a global change in the narrative which should highlight the epistemic authority of science in order to build a stronger trust in the scientific community. However, tackling trust in scientists needs a wider field of persuasion that includes conspiracy beliefs and risk perception factors.",
keywords = "cognitive illusions, conspiracy, coronavirus, COVID-19, optimism, pessimism, positive illusions, risk perception, trust in science, unrealistic optimism bias, vaccination hesitancy, Psychology, Business psychology",
author = "Casara, {Bruno Gabriel Salvador} and Susana Martinez-Conde and Dariusz Dolinski and Caterina Suitner and Oliver Genschow and Pawel Muniak and Wojciech Kulesza",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Social Psychological Bulletin.All rights reserved.",
year = "2022",
month = oct,
day = "12",
doi = "10.32872/SPB.7807",
language = "English",
volume = "17",
journal = "Social Psychological Bulletin",
issn = "1896-1800",
publisher = "PsychOpen",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trust in scientists, risk perception, conspiratorial beliefs, and unrealistic optimism

T2 - A network approach to investigating the psychological underpinnings of COVID-19 vaccination intentions

AU - Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador

AU - Martinez-Conde, Susana

AU - Dolinski, Dariusz

AU - Suitner, Caterina

AU - Genschow, Oliver

AU - Muniak, Pawel

AU - Kulesza, Wojciech

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Social Psychological Bulletin.All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/10/12

Y1 - 2022/10/12

N2 - Using a network approach, we addressed in two studies interrelations among potential antecedents of vaccine intentions, related to both COVID-19 risk perception and epistemic beliefs (i.e., trust in scientists and conspiracy beliefs). In Study 1 and 2, we assessed a US (N = 994) and an international sample (N = 902) during spring and summer 2020. The network analysis reveals a complex interplay of factors where trust in scientists, the closest predictor of vaccine intention, is associated with conspiracy beliefs and danger perception. Furthermore, we found evidence for unrealistic optimism, with participants perceiving the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 as lower compared to the risk they attributed to other people. However, this bias was not associated with vaccine intention. Study 2 corroborated these results. The results call for a global change in the narrative which should highlight the epistemic authority of science in order to build a stronger trust in the scientific community. However, tackling trust in scientists needs a wider field of persuasion that includes conspiracy beliefs and risk perception factors.

AB - Using a network approach, we addressed in two studies interrelations among potential antecedents of vaccine intentions, related to both COVID-19 risk perception and epistemic beliefs (i.e., trust in scientists and conspiracy beliefs). In Study 1 and 2, we assessed a US (N = 994) and an international sample (N = 902) during spring and summer 2020. The network analysis reveals a complex interplay of factors where trust in scientists, the closest predictor of vaccine intention, is associated with conspiracy beliefs and danger perception. Furthermore, we found evidence for unrealistic optimism, with participants perceiving the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 as lower compared to the risk they attributed to other people. However, this bias was not associated with vaccine intention. Study 2 corroborated these results. The results call for a global change in the narrative which should highlight the epistemic authority of science in order to build a stronger trust in the scientific community. However, tackling trust in scientists needs a wider field of persuasion that includes conspiracy beliefs and risk perception factors.

KW - cognitive illusions

KW - conspiracy

KW - coronavirus

KW - COVID-19

KW - optimism

KW - pessimism

KW - positive illusions

KW - risk perception

KW - trust in science

KW - unrealistic optimism bias

KW - vaccination hesitancy

KW - Psychology

KW - Business psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141305512&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.32872/SPB.7807

DO - 10.32872/SPB.7807

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85141305512

VL - 17

JO - Social Psychological Bulletin

JF - Social Psychological Bulletin

SN - 1896-1800

M1 - e7807

ER -

Documents

DOI

Recently viewed

Activities

  1. Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education (Zeitschrift)
  2. KI-Kompetenzen mit digitalen Lernangeboten stärken - welche Bedarfe haben Lehrende und Lernende?
  3. Wann, warum und wie effektiv wird um Nachhaltigkeit verhandelt?: Eine psychologische Perspektive
  4. Symposium “Arzneimittel im Wasser - Ziele und Rahmenbedingungen“ der Emschergenossenschaft - 2011
  5. Keep Calm and Solve the Problem: An Integrated Model to Reduce Threat and Defense in Conflicts
  6. Emerging Researchers on Videos in Teacher Education - Structured Video Talk [Konferenz abgesagt]
  7. Language Learning in the Mainstream Classroom: Social Science Teachers’ Approaches and Attitudes
  8. ’Granny do you want tea?’: Investigating offers across the Englishes (Leuphana Universität Lüneburg)
  9. Look Who's Talking How - A Teaching Intervention on Gender-Sensitive Language in Higher Education
  10. STELA - Studienerfolg mittels Learning Analytics. Handlungsempfehlungen für deutsche Hochschulen
  11. Language learning in the mainstream classroom: Social Studies teachers’ approaches and attitudes
  12. ZEP - Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik (Fachzeitschrift)
  13. How stereotypes affect grading and tutorial feedback: Shifting evaluations or shifting standards?
  14. Video or Text Cases in Problem-Oriented or Direct Instructional Settings for Preservice Teachers?
  15. Dozierendenperspektive zu akademischen Kompetenzen von Studierenden in der Studieneingangsphase
  16. A piezo servo hydraulic actuator for use in camless combustion engines and its control with MPC
  17. Geschlecht und Geschlechterverhältnisse in der Pädagogik: Theoretische und empirische Grundlagen

Publications

  1. Successful climate protection via rapid coal phaseout in Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia
  2. Advancing the Integration of Corporate Sustainability Measurement, Management, and Reporting
  3. Wissen, Vorstellungen und Wünsche der ChemielehrerInnen bezüglich sprachlicher Heterogenität
  4. Ideological Stances in Yoruba Nation Secessionist Discourse in Nigerian Virtual Communities
  5. Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung. Werteorientierung – Nachhaltigkeit als Bildungsziel
  6. Die Gemeinschaftsschule in Baden-Württemberg: Situation und Sicht der Akteurinnen und Akteure
  7. Import, Export und Produktivität in niedersächsischen Unternehmen des verarbeitenden Gewerbes
  8. Remarks on: Roberto Esposito, Termini della Politica. Comunità, Immunità, Biopolitica (Milano, 2007)
  9. Der BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunkt zu "Jedem Kind ein Instrument" in Nordrhein-Westfalen und Hamburg
  10. „Wir wünschen uns, dass Ihr, weil es ja so bitter nötig ist, auch in Zukunft Widerstand leistet."
  11. Ökonomische Folgen des reformierten Betriebsverfassungsgesetzes für mittelständische Firmen
  12. Lässt sich Sensibilität für die Komplexität problemorientierten Mathematikunterrichts "messen"?
  13. Koordination von Kooperationen durch Selbstverpflichtung – wenn Markt und Hierarchie versagen
  14. Märkte von morgen, Unterrichtsinhalte von gestern: ein Rätsel der kaufmännischen Berufsbildung
  15. Empirische Erschließung von nachhaltigen Qualifikationsanforderungen auf betrieblicher Ebene.
  16. Geisteswissenschaftliche Pädagogik, Schule, Hochschule und Volksbildung in den Zwanziger Jahren