Public surveys show that 90 percent say they trust science. Digging deeper, 40 percent of the same people surveyed said, “I only believe science that is consistent with my personal beliefs.” While most people say they trust science, most are influenced more by personal beliefs. These beliefs are shaped and reinforced by the social environment and how close or distant people feel to science (Vechkalov et al., 2024).
Psychological proximity to science tends to predict confidence. If you’ve never done a science experiment in school, never read a mainstream science journal Psychology today or a scientific article in a journal such as Natureand you have never met a scientist in your life, you may see science as a strange, distant and irrelevant thing.
Also, most people pay attention to what they feel is personally important right now. Science that is far-fetched, like climate science, is easier for some people to ignore. It helps to show people how science is relevant to their society now (eg clean air and water) (Veckalov et al. 2024).
Scientific skepticism has consequences
On April 21, 2026, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth sent a memo to members of the military that stated, “Our new policy is simple: If you, an American warfighter protecting this nation, believe the flu vaccine is in your best interest, then you can get it; you should. But we’re not forcing you to” (Lopez, 2026).
Less than two months later, a flu outbreak sickened 160 recruits and killed one just six weeks into his training (Jaffe and Haberman, 2026). to sleep sharing bunk beds, exercising and eating communal meals placed them in a dangerous environment for the spread of infectious diseases.
Infectious disease scientists study herd immunity and ways to prevent the spread of disease. Herd immunity occurs when a significant percentage of the population has become immune to an infection. The exact percentage required for herd immunity varies depending on the type of infectious disease. In general, the more people vaccinated, the better.
Scientists create predictive models to help protect public health and safety. If all these newcomers had been vaccinated against the latest flu virus, they would probably have herd immunity and prevent it from spreading.
When leaders lose faith in scientific consensus, individuals make decisions based on social and/or emotional identification. Psychological researchers have found that people are more likely to vaccinate if they understand the concept of herd immunity than if they only consider self-interest (Moussaoui et al. 2024). Hegset’s “American warriors” might have avoided getting sick if they had been made to think of each other.
The researchers found that those who felt distant from science were more skeptical about science COVID-19 vaccine Those who saw science as relevant to them and as a useful subject to pursue were more likely to get vaccinated. Those who perceived scientists as distant, inaccessible, and unconnected were less likely to receive the vaccine (Veckalov et al., 2024).
What jobs do people find most trustworthy?
The most trusted occupation is the “scientist”. In fact, the more scientific a job title is, the more credible people think it is. Scholars were considered more trustworthy than clergymen, sheriffs, and wardens. So why do so many people reject the scientific consensus? Researchers have found that people trust and respect science that aligns with their interests and beliefs. When scientific claims threaten a person’s beliefs, values, or interests, they tend to reject that science (Sutton et al., 2026).
If your business profits depend on dumping toxic waste into the ocean, you may want to use the science to show that your waste is not harmful. environment. If climate science undermines the oil and gas industry, it could cost billions or trillions of dollars. Funding research that minimizes any harm to human health and well-being may be worth a fortune. If your family’s income depends on this massive industry, you may be inclined to distrust climate scientists (Sutton et al., 2026).
Our root relationships that are from personalityideologies, social attitudes, and fears shape acceptance or rejection of science (Sutton et al., 2026). If scientific research suggests that my employment may disappear because of it AII may be inclined to look for information that will alleviate my fears. As Social media Silencing us into species based on interests and influencers, the need for fact-checking and scientific thinking can seem overwhelming.
Skepticism is the basis of science
I often hear people ask, “Do you believe in science?” as if scientific research is the same as religious belief. Some say, “I believe in God, not science,” as if religious observance invalidates scientific inquiry into our world.
Skepticism is built into scientific research models. When a scientist begins research, they start with a “null hypothesis,” which basically says, “I’m starting with an assumption that my experiment doesn’t work.” If your experiment shows an effect, it must be large enough that it cannot happen by chance. This is where statistics and mathematics come in to help scientists determine whether the results of a study were due to controlled variables or random chance.
Do we want to understand our world based on what feels good, what seems right, or what most people believe? Or do we want important things like food security, health, clean air and water to be tested by scientists who can identify and find remedies for what is killing us? Scientists study global disease outbreaks to help us predict and prepare for the next pandemic. This seems important (Ngongo et al., 2026).
Early humans, before the Industrial Revolution, ate organic food and died before the age of 30. From the discovery of microbes to sanitation, pasteurization, antibiotics and modern science, the average human lifespan reached 79 years.
Famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says, “The good thing about science is whether you believe it or not.” Scientists are trying to discover this truth. It is important.
