Trust in scientists, risk perception, conspiratorial beliefs, and unrealistic optimism: A network approach to investigating the psychological underpinnings of COVID-19 vaccination intentions
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In: Social Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 17, e7807, 12.10.2022.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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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 -