Who is skeptical about scientific innovation? Examining worldview predictors of AI, nanotechnology and human genetic editing attitudes

This work examines worldview predictors of attitudes towards nanotechnology, human genetic editing (HGE) and artificial intelligence (AI). By simultaneously assessing the relative predictive value of various worldview variables in two Dutch samples (total N = 614), we obtained evidence for spirituality as a key predictor of skepticism across domains. Religiosity reliably predicted HGE skepticism only. Lower faith in science contributed to these relationships. Aversion to tampering with nature predicted skepticism across domains. These results speak to the importance of religiosity and spirituality for scientific innovation attitudes and emphasize the need for a detailed consideration of worldviews that shape these attitudes.