Mar 5, 2026 08:19 PM
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:
The research revealed differences across religious denominations... (MORE - details, no ads)
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)
The research revealed differences across religious denominations... (MORE - details, no ads)
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