Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that religious belief helps individuals to cope with stress and anxiety. But is this effect specific to supernatural beliefs, or is it a more general function of belief — including belief in science? We developed a measure of belief in science and conducted two experiments in which we manipulated stress and existential anxiety. In Experiment 1, we assessed rowers about to compete (high-stress condition) and rowers at a training session (low-stress condition). As predicted, rowers in the high-stress group reported greater belief in science. In Experiment 2, participants primed with mortality (vs. participants in a control condition) reported greater belief in science. In both experiments, belief in science was negatively correlated with religiosity. Thus, some secular individuals may use science as a form of “faith” that helps them to deal with stressful and anxiety-provoking situations.
Highlights
IntroductionOur beliefs can comfort us, provide us with meaning, or tie us more closely to others (Heine, Proulx, & Vohs, 2006; Hogg & Mulling, 1999; Lerner & Miller, 1978)
Is this effect specific to supernatural beliefs, or is it a more general function of belief — including belief in science? We developed a measure of belief in science and conducted two experiments in which we manipulated stress and existential anxiety
Belief in science was negatively correlated with religiosity
Summary
Our beliefs can comfort us, provide us with meaning, or tie us more closely to others (Heine, Proulx, & Vohs, 2006; Hogg & Mulling, 1999; Lerner & Miller, 1978). Authors such as Durkheim and Freud famously argued that religious belief plays such a role in the lives of believers. The aim of the present research was to investigate the relationship of stress and existential anxiety with non-religious beliefs of an avowedly naturalistic character — belief in science
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