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Disbelief in evolution is linked to increased racism, experts say

There is a consistency in research findings across countries, cultures, genders, and religions.

Low belief in evolution is linked to higher prejudices and biases against individuals from different groups across the globe. Research shows that people would be more likely to identify with humanity if they believed in evolution, because of the common ancestry we share with our predecessors. 

TL;DR: You are more human if you believe you are descended from animals. 

Overview

In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Physchology, University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers found that disbelief in human evolution was associated with prejudice, racism, and support for discrimination against African Americans, the LGBTQ community in the U.S., and immigrants. We also are less likely to support peace strategies such as conflict resolution. 

On the other hand, as Stylianos Syropolulos, a Ph.D. candidate in the war, and his team explains, people who perceive themselves more as akin to animals tend to be more pro-social or have a more positive attitude toward people from marginalized backgrounds and outgroup members. 

How?

This study was conducted to examine whether believing in evolution would act as similarly as did believing that humans are similar to animals, as it would confirm the idea that we are closely related to animals. The researchers investigated data from the American General Social Survey (GSS), the Pew Research Center, and three online crowd-sourced samples during eight studies conducted in different parts of the world. Religiosity, education, scientific knowledge, cultural identity, and political ideology were used to test people. 

Data was examined from 1993, 1994, 2000. 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018: the years where the GSS asked those in the U.S. about what side they took in evolution, and their mindset towards LGBTQ people, African-Americans, immigrants, and affirmative action, among other social issues. 

Results

The same outcome occurred every time: accepting our evolution led to less discrimination, no matter what group the participants were part of. 

Religion, like political ideology, was measured separately from belief or disbelief in evolution. 
It makes no difference whether someone believes in God to believe, or disbelieve, in evolution, Syropolulos says. 

The team adds that this pattern has occurred in all main political systems. "It's very much a human phenomenon, no matter where you are in the world." 

In the Eastern European study, Orthodox Christians (the majority) showed less discriminative acts toward Muslims, gypsies, and Jews when they expressed evolutionary belief. Similarly, in the Israeli study, those who backed peace among the Arabs, Jews, and Palestinians all believed that evolution was real. The study containing Islamic countries proved that less prejudice against Jews and Christians was connected to a belief in evolution. 

Why?

Syropoulos suggests that believing in evolution can enlargen an individual's "moral circle," causing a mindset that we are all related in some way and are more alike than we are different. 

His team goes on to state that teaching about evolution has a positive feedback within the community, creating a more harmonious and better society in general. 

 The next step? Examine how schools teach evolution in order to help amplify its positive effects, say the researchers. 




Sources: 

Hillman, A. (2022, June 7). Disbelief in evolution tied to bigotry: Mark Creech. Blue Ridge Christian News. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://blueridgechristiannews.com/disbelief-in-evolution-tied-to-bigotry/

Durham, B. P., Bradley, P., & Nydam, C. (2022, April 18). Less evolved humans have less faith in evolution • the medical republic. The Medical Republic. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from http://medicalrepublic.com.au/less-evolved-humans-have-less-faith-in-evolution/67208

ScienceDaily. (2022, April 4). Disbelief in human evolution linked to greater prejudice and racism. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220404164604.htm

Khair, T. (2017, July 23). The space between belief and disbelief. Return to frontpage. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/the-space-between-belief-and-disbelief/article19332539.ece



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