"Belief in the end of the world is surprisingly common... and it's significantly influencing how people interpret and respond to the most pressing threats facing humanity. Everyone agrees on one thing: We humans play an important role in the fate of our species."
"People think about the apocalypse in multiple ways - including when it might happen, who or what would cause it and whether it's something to fear or welcome. These beliefs are strongly linked to how people perceive and respond to global risks like climate change, pandemics, nuclear conflict and emerging technologies like AI."
Researchers from the University of British Columbia surveyed over 3,400 people and identified five dimensions of apocalyptic thinking that shape how individuals interpret global threats. Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer confined to society's fringes and encompass multiple perspectives: timing of the end, causation, and whether it should be feared or welcomed. These beliefs strongly correlate with how people perceive and respond to climate change, pandemics, nuclear conflict, and emerging technologies like AI. Nearly one-third of American participants reported believing the world will end during their lifetime. The research reveals that apocalyptic thinking is surprisingly common and significantly influences how people interpret humanity's most pressing threats.
#apocalyptic-thinking #global-risks #end-of-world-beliefs #climate-change-and-existential-threats #psychological-research
Read at Mail Online
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