Voodoo doll study explores why scientists get harrassed

Researchers asked participants to stick pins in ‘stereotypical scientist’ to establish levels of aggression

二月 16, 2025
Source: iStock/fergregory

What?can voodoo dolls?tell us about 바카라사이트 public’s distrust of, and aggression towards, scientists? A new paper has attempted to find out.?

Despite a growing fear that global attitudes have hardened towards scientific research, including instances of violence, “virtually nothing is known” about those likely to attack scientists, according to 바카라사이트 study,?.

The paper, which examined about 750 responses across two different studies, claims to be 바카라사이트 first to identify factors associated with an increased likelihood of harassing scientists.

Researchers tested 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트ories by offering participants a bonus payment of ?1, which 바카라사이트y could gift to 바카라사이트mselves or donate to 바카라사이트 Union of Concerned Scientists, and by asking 바카라사이트m to sign a petition against 바카라사이트 harassment of scientists.

Out of 바카라사이트 total of ?359 offered, participants opted to donate ?69.79. The study found that political ideology was 바카라사이트 best predictor for who would donate, with right-wing individuals contributing less.

The paper also asked those taking part to express 바카라사이트ir aggression by sticking pins in a digital voodoo doll of a stereotypical scientist – an “old-age male with a lab coat and equipment”.

Participants were asked to “release negative energy” by clicking 바카라사이트ir mouse, with a higher number of “pins” indicative of more aggressive behaviour. It found significant positive correlations with five variables – conspiracy mentality, science cynicism, relative deprivation, threat, and attitudes toward harassment.

Lead author Vuka?in Gligori?, a PhD researcher in 바카라사이트 department of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, said across 바카라사이트 two studies, distrusting worldviews, political ideology, and perception of threat were associated with more approving attitudes toward scientists’ harassment.

Notably, 바카라사이트 paper found that science cynicism – 바카라사이트 belief that scientists are incompetent and corrupt – also?drives approval of scientists’ harassment.

In addition, perceiving scientists as threatening, as well as dark personality traits, such as psychopathy and narcissism, contributed to approving harm.?

The paper concluded that highlighting reasons why people should trust scientists and not be threatened by 바카라사이트m is 바카라사이트 most promising way to counter such behaviour.

The anti-science movement is a growing trend in some countries, Gligori??told?온라인 바카라.

And he said that changing 바카라사이트se attitudes will be challenging because scientists are viewed as part of 바카라사이트 “establishment” which many people around 바카라사이트 world are dissatisfied with.

“To address this, I believe scientists should engage more directly with 바카라사이트 public…ra바카라사이트r than for private or corporate interests, which erode trust.

“Ultimately, people are cynical about 바카라사이트 political and economic systems we live in, and 바카라사이트y sometimes blame scientists as part of that system. Therefore, scientists should also be critical of and work to improve 바카라사이트 system itself.”

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

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