[00:00:00] Why do some people disregard public health rules? Researchers in the U.S. canada, and internationally studied whether symbolic thinking, or the tendency to connect deeper meaning to objects and events, shapes how people assess risks, form opinions, and judge information. Researchers conducted four studies with nearly 6,000 participants across eight countries. They developed a measure called symbolic show of strength, or sss, which captures the tendency to see conflicts as a symbol indicating strength and independence. In the COVID 19 context, this means treating the pandemic as a fight one through toughness, such as refusing to follow guidelines rather than through following public health advice. RESULTS People scoring higher on symbolic thinking tended to see COVID 19 as less dangerous, viewed vaccines as riskier, and believe misinformation. They showed less analytical thinking, more conspiratory beliefs, and stronger preferences for social hierarchy. These links remained even after researchers accounted for other psychological and political factors. In a fourth study, symbolic thinking also predicted how people view cryptocurrency, risk, and misinformation. Lessons Facts are not always judged on facts alone. People often ask what an issue represents about strength, freedom, or identity. Recognizing that symbolic thinking can shape our judgments helps us refine our beliefs.
