Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal
Abstract A substantial number of people refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which prompts the question as to why. We focus on the role of individual worldviews about the nature and generation of knowledge (epistemic beliefs). We propose a model that includes epistemic beliefs, their relation...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31079-9 |
| _version_ | 1797864833746468864 |
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| author | Jan Philipp Rudloff Fabian Hutmacher Markus Appel |
| author_facet | Jan Philipp Rudloff Fabian Hutmacher Markus Appel |
| author_sort | Jan Philipp Rudloff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A substantial number of people refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which prompts the question as to why. We focus on the role of individual worldviews about the nature and generation of knowledge (epistemic beliefs). We propose a model that includes epistemic beliefs, their relationship to the Dark Factor of Personality (D), and their mutual effect on the probability of having been vaccinated against COVID-19. Based on a US nationally representative sample (N = 1268), we show that stronger endorsement of post-truth epistemic beliefs was associated with a lower probability of having been vaccinated against COVID-19. D was also linked to a lower probability of having been vaccinated against COVID-19, which can be explained by post-truth epistemic beliefs. Our results indicate that the more individuals deliberately refrain from adhering to the better argument, the less likely they are vaccinated. More generally, post-truth epistemic beliefs pose a challenge for rational communication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:58:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6486ad6cfb454effbe6c96eb849002fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:58:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6486ad6cfb454effbe6c96eb849002fc2023-03-22T11:06:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-011311910.1038/s41598-023-31079-9Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusalJan Philipp Rudloff0Fabian Hutmacher1Markus Appel2Psychology of Communication and New Media, Human-Computer-Media Institute, University of WürzburgPsychology of Communication and New Media, Human-Computer-Media Institute, University of WürzburgPsychology of Communication and New Media, Human-Computer-Media Institute, University of WürzburgAbstract A substantial number of people refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which prompts the question as to why. We focus on the role of individual worldviews about the nature and generation of knowledge (epistemic beliefs). We propose a model that includes epistemic beliefs, their relationship to the Dark Factor of Personality (D), and their mutual effect on the probability of having been vaccinated against COVID-19. Based on a US nationally representative sample (N = 1268), we show that stronger endorsement of post-truth epistemic beliefs was associated with a lower probability of having been vaccinated against COVID-19. D was also linked to a lower probability of having been vaccinated against COVID-19, which can be explained by post-truth epistemic beliefs. Our results indicate that the more individuals deliberately refrain from adhering to the better argument, the less likely they are vaccinated. More generally, post-truth epistemic beliefs pose a challenge for rational communication.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31079-9 |
| spellingShingle | Jan Philipp Rudloff Fabian Hutmacher Markus Appel Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal Scientific Reports |
| title | Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal |
| title_full | Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal |
| title_fullStr | Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal |
| title_short | Post-truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the Dark Factor of Personality are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination refusal |
| title_sort | post truth epistemic beliefs rooted in the dark factor of personality are associated with higher covid 19 vaccination refusal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31079-9 |
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