Explaining Polarized Trust in Scientists: A Political Stereotype-Approach

2024/01/19 by Marlene Sophie Altenmüller, Tobias Wingen, Anna Schulte · 1 voice · 4 citations
Social Sciences · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Misinformation and Its Impacts #Social and Intergroup Psychology

paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/10755470231221770

Abstract

Trust in science is polarized along political lines—but why? We show across a series of highly controlled studies (total N = 2,859) and a large-scale Twitter analysis ( N = 3,977,868) that people across the political spectrum hold stereotypes about scientists’ political orientation (e.g., “scientists are liberal”) and that these stereotypes decisively affect the link between their own political orientation and their trust in scientists. Critically, this effect shaped participants’ perceptions of the value of science, protective behavior intentions during a pandemic, policy support, and information-seeking behavior. Therefore, these insights have important implications for effective science communication.

Citations

• A model of (often mixed) stereotype content: Competence and warmth respectively follow from perceived status and competition.
• The Partisan Brain
• Worldview-motivated rejection of science and the norms of science

Cited by

• Personal disclosure in science communication
• Global studies on trust in science suggest new theoretical and methodological directions
• Trust in climate scientists is associated with political ideology: A 26-country analysis
• Science populism impacts perceptions of credibility across scientific professions

Discussions

• **WHY IS TRUST IN SCIENCE POLITICALLY POLARIZED?** Political stereotypes about scientists decisively shape the link between people's #politicalorientation and their #trustinscience. New publication wi [bsky, 26 points, 1 comments]

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