Racial misconceptions of the theory of evolution predict opposition to the theory and science in general among a sample of Zimbabwean university students

Abstract

The theory of evolution has often been misconceived and often associated with racist undertones and insinuations towards Black Africans, who are assumed to be less evolved and thus closer to “apes” genetically than other, presumably more advanced racial groups. In this research was thus tested the hypothesis that misconceptions surrounding Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution, particularly racial ones, would predict a lack of acceptance of the theory in particular, and the entirety of the science enterprise in general among a sample of Black Zimbabweans. We also tested the impact of spirituality on both acceptance of evolution and science. The hypotheses received support from the findings and they are discussed in line with pedagogy surrounding evolution and science. The findings of the most central importance were that racial misconceptions, general misconceptions and spirituality predicted both acceptance of evolution and science. In turn, the effects of all these exogenous variables on acceptance of science were mediated by lack of acceptance of evolution.