Research Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer fringe -- they’re shaping how people respond - Printable Version +- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com) +-- Forum: Culture (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-49.html) +--- Forum: Religions & Spirituality (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-124.html) +--- Thread: Research Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer fringe -- they’re shaping how people respond (/thread-19906.html)

Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer fringe -- they’re shaping how people respond - C C - Mar 5, 2026 Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer fringe—and they’re shaping how people respond to global threats https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118926 INTRO: In an era of climate anxiety, geopolitical tensions and rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, apocalyptic thinking is no longer confined to the fringes of society, according to new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. “Belief in the end of the world is surprisingly common across North America, and it’s significantly influencing how people interpret and respond to the most pressing threats facing humanity,” said Dr. Matthew I. Billet, the study’s lead author who conducted the research as a PhD candidate in UBC’s psychology department. He is now a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Irvine. The research draws on surveys of more than 3,400 people in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S. national sample of 1,409 respondents, nearly one‑third said they believe the world will end within their lifetime. In both Canada and the U.S., the study shows that people think about the end of the world in multiple ways—including when it might happen, who or what would cause it, and whether it is something to fear or welcome. In the U.S., these beliefs were strongly linked to how people perceive and respond to global risks like climate change, pandemics, nuclear conflict and emerging technologies. Because Canadians think about the end of the world in similar ways, these beliefs may also influence how global risks are understood in Canada, even though this was not directly tested. Five dimensions of the apocalypse Billet and his UBC colleagues developed a comprehensive psychological measure of end-of-world beliefs, identifying five key dimensions that matter for how people think and act: perceived closeness (how soon the end will arrive) anthropogenic causality (whether humans will cause it) theogenic causality (whether divine or supernatural forces will cause it) personal control (how much influence one personally has over the outcome) emotional valence (whether the end will ultimately be good or bad) “Different narratives people believe about the end of the world can lead to very different responses to societal issues,” said Dr. Billet. “Someone who believes humans are causing the apocalypse through climate change will respond very differently to environmental policy than someone who believes the end times are controlled by divine prophecy.” The research revealed differences across religious denominations... (MORE - details, no ads) RE: Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer fringe -- they’re shaping how people respond - Magical Realist - Mar 5, 2026 There's a sort of comfort in believing the world will end soon. The sudden elimination of all the worries and problems of living in THIS world and restarting from scratch. It's just an escapist fantasy, like winning the lotto or alien contact.