Right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation predict rejection of science and scientists

Previous research has highlighted how ideological factors such as political self-identification, religiosity and conspiracy thinking influence our beliefs about scientific issues climate change vaccination. Across three studies (combined N = 9,022) we expand on this line of inquiry to show for the first time that attitudes relating authoritarianism group-based dominance predict disagreement with consensus in several domains. We these effects are almost entirely mediated by varying combinations (political ideology, religiosity, free-market endorsement, thinking) science-specific (scientific knowledge, trust scientists) constructs, depending issue question. Importantly, a general distrust science scientists emerges most consistent mediator across different find that, previous research, roots rejection vary issues. However, also may share common origin regarding authority equality.