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Anthropocentric biases in teleological thinking : how nature seems designed for humans

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Preston, Jesse L. and Shin, Faith (2020) Anthropocentric biases in teleological thinking : how nature seems designed for humans. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General . doi:10.1037/xge0000981 (In Press)

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0000981

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Abstract

People frequently see design in nature that reflects intuitive teleological thinking– that is, the order in nature that supports life suggests it was designed for that purpose. This research proposes that inferences are stronger when nature supports human life in particular. Five studies (total N = 1788) examine evidence for an anthro-teleological bias. People agreed more with design statements framed to aid humans (e.g., “trees produce oxygen so that humans can breathe”) than the same statements framed to aid other targets (“trees produce oxygen so that leopards can breathe”). The bias was greatest when advantages for humans were well-known and salient (e.g., the ozone layer) and decreased when advantages for other targets were made explicit. The bias was not eliminated by highlighting the benefits for other species, however, and emerged spontaneously for novel phenomena (Jupiter’s gravity protects Earth from asteroids). We conclude that anthropocentric biases enhance existing teleological biases to see stronger design in phenomena where it enables human survival.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BD Speculative Philosophy
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Anthropic principle, Human beings, Intelligent design (Teleology), Anthropology -- Philosophy
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
Publisher: American Psychological Association
ISSN: 0096-3445
Official Date: 24 September 2020
Dates:
DateEvent
24 September 2020Available
10 August 2020Accepted
Date of first compliant deposit: 16 September 2020
DOI: 10.1037/xge0000981
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: In Press
Publisher Statement: ©American Psychological Association, 2020. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0000981
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
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