Apocalyptic thinking, once associated mainly with fringe voices, is edging into mainstream thought as people grapple with climate instability, geopolitical strain and the unsettling rise of artificial intelligence, new research reveals.
New research suggests that a sense of impending doom now colours the outlook of many who might once have dismissed such anxieties as the domain of eccentrics. The study, in which more than 3,400 people were surveyed across the US and Canada, reveals a surprisingly common preoccupation with the end of the world. In the US sample, nearly a third said they expect the world to end within their own lifetime.
Across both countries, people imagine the end in varied and sometimes contradictory ways: speculating about when it might arrive, what force or folly might bring it about, and whether it should be dreaded or welcomed. The research team said these beliefs tended to be closely tied to how people interpret major global threats such as climate change, pandemics, nuclear conflict and emerging technologies.
“Belief in the end of the world is surprisingly common,” said lead author Dr Matthew Billet from the University of British Columbia. “It’s significantly influencing how people interpret and respond to the most pressing threats facing humanity.” Dr Billet and his colleagues developed a psychological measure of end-of-world beliefs, identifying five key “dimensions of the apocalypse” that matter for how people think and act.
The research highlighted considerable differences across religious denominations. “Everyone agrees on one thing: we humans play an important role in the fate of our species,” said Dr Billet. “This was as true for the religious as it was for the non-religious. However, there were also differences between religious denominations that were quite stark.”
Dr Billet said the study comes at a pivotal moment, one in which global coordination is essential if societies are to manage mounting existential risks. “Today, beliefs about [the end of the world] undermine efforts at mass vaccination against Covid-19. The dread of climate apocalypse undermines young people’s motivation to tackle climate change and to bring children into this world.” He argues that understanding these beliefs is essential for effective communication and policy-making in an increasingly divided society.
