Celebrity Opinion Influences Public Acceptance of Human Evolution
Steven Arnocky, Emma Bozek, Caroline Dufort, Samantha Rybka, Robyn Hebert
First Published September 19, 2018 Research Article
Article Information
Volume: 16 issue: 3
Article first published online: September 19, 2018; Issue published: July 1, 2018
Received: July 06, 2017; Accepted: August 21, 2018
Steven Arnocky1, Emma Bozek1, Caroline Dufort1, Samantha Rybka1, Robyn Hebert1
1Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Corresponding Author: Steven Arnocky, Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario, Canada P1B 8L7. Email: stevena@nipissingu.ca
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Abstract
The present research examined the influence of celebrity opinion upon individuals’ acceptance of the theory of evolution. Priming stimuli were developed purveying pro-evolution, anti-evolution, or neutral opinion (Study 1). When paired with a male celebrity or expert source (Study 2), the male celebrity, but not the male expert, influenced undergraduates’ acceptance of evolution. The influence of the male celebrity on acceptance of evolution was replicated in a community sample (Study 3). When paired with a female celebrity source, undergraduates’ acceptance of evolution was similarly influenced (Study 4). Together, these findings extend our understanding of the reach of credible celebrity endorsers beyond consumer behavior to core individual beliefs, such as those surrounding the acceptance of human evolution.
Keywords celebrity, interpersonal influences, social influences, theory of evolution, religiosity, attitudes
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