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The Einstein effect provides global evidence for scientific source credibility effects and the influence of religiosity

Author

Listed:
  • Suzanne Hoogeveen

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Julia M. Haaf

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Joseph A. Bulbulia

    (Victoria University of Wellington)

  • Robert M. Ross

    (Macquarie University)

  • Ryan McKay

    (Royal Holloway, University of London)

  • Sacha Altay

    (Institut Jean Nicod)

  • Theiss Bendixen

    (Aarhus University)

  • Renatas Berniūnas

    (Vilnius University)

  • Arik Cheshin

    (University of Haifa)

  • Claudio Gentili

    (University of Padova)

  • Raluca Georgescu

    (Babes-Bolyai University)

  • Will M. Gervais

    (Brunel University London)

  • Kristin Hagel

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Christopher Kavanagh

    (University of Oxford
    Rikkyo University)

  • Neil Levy

    (Macquarie University
    Macquarie University)

  • Alejandra Neely

    (Adolfo Ibáñez University)

  • Lin Qiu

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • André Rabelo

    (Universidade de Brasília)

  • Jonathan E. Ramsay

    (James Cook University)

  • Bastiaan T. Rutjens

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Hugh Turpin

    (University of Oxford)

  • Filip Uzarevic

    (Catholic University of Louvain)

  • Robin Wuyts

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Dimitris Xygalatas

    (University of Connecticut)

  • Michiel Elk

    (Leiden University)

Abstract

People tend to evaluate information from reliable sources more favourably, but it is unclear exactly how perceivers’ worldviews interact with this source credibility effect. In a large and diverse cross-cultural sample (N = 10,195 from 24 countries), we presented participants with obscure, meaningless statements attributed to either a spiritual guru or a scientist. We found a robust global source credibility effect for scientific authorities, which we dub ‘the Einstein effect’: across all 24 countries and all levels of religiosity, scientists held greater authority than spiritual gurus. In addition, individual religiosity predicted a weaker relative preference for the statement from the scientist compared with the spiritual guru, and was more strongly associated with credibility judgements for the guru than the scientist. Independent data on explicit trust ratings across 143 countries mirrored our experimental findings. These findings suggest that irrespective of one’s religious worldview, across cultures science is a powerful and universal heuristic that signals the reliability of information.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzanne Hoogeveen & Julia M. Haaf & Joseph A. Bulbulia & Robert M. Ross & Ryan McKay & Sacha Altay & Theiss Bendixen & Renatas Berniūnas & Arik Cheshin & Claudio Gentili & Raluca Georgescu & Will M. G, 2022. "The Einstein effect provides global evidence for scientific source credibility effects and the influence of religiosity," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(4), pages 523-535, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:6:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1038_s41562-021-01273-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01273-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tobia Spampatti & Ulf J. J. Hahnel & Evelina Trutnevyte & Tobias Brosch, 2024. "Psychological inoculation strategies to fight climate disinformation across 12 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 380-398, February.

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