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

Bruno Gabriel Salvador Casara; Susana Martinez-Conde; Dariusz Dolinski; Caterina Suitner; Oliver Genschow; Pawel Muniak; Wojciech Kulesza

doi:10.32872/SPB.7807

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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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 contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

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",

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

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 -

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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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