The psychology of apocalyptic thinking

What is it about?

Many people believe the world is nearing its end, whether through religious prophecy or environmental collapse. Our research shows that these "end of world" beliefs aren't just fringe ideas—they actually act as a central lens through which people view major global threats. By measuring features of the narratives people believe about the apocalypse, we are able to predict how they interpret and wish to respond to global threats, like climate change, global pandemics, and geopolitical instability.

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Why is it important?

This research moves beyond asking "if" people believe the world is ending to asking "how" they believe it will happen. We demonstrate that these beliefs vary across religious and secular groups and independently drive real-world attitudes toward global risks. This is timely because it helps explain why different communities react so differently to shared threats like climate change or geopolitical instability. As threats becomes increasingly global, the capacity to coordinate collective action across culturally diverse populations becomes more valuable. Understanding how attitudes towards risks are rooted in one's cultural worldview contributes to building this capacity.