“Reasoning and judgment done in the highly uncertain context of a global pandemic and infodemic is a complex research topic,” Maglić explained. For example, other research has found that having a heightened sense of entitlement is also associated with reduced compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Taken together with other research, these findings provide evidence that open-minded thinkers make more accurate judgments about risks and more evidence-based decisions under uncertainty across a broad range of issues, including health-related ones.”īut close-mindedness/open-mindedness is only one factor among many that influences pandemic-related behaviors, the researchers noted. “Namely, less open-minded individuals were less likely to practice physical distancing and were less supportive of restrictive COVID-19 policies partly due to their support for COVID-19 conspiracy theories as well. “Also, there is some evidence that having an open-minded outlook can also help in dealing with various ‘contaminated’ and distorted information suggested by other research, and in our case, specifically conspiracy theories.” “During the first stages of the worldwide crisis, individuals who tend to recognize the limitations of their own knowledge and who are open to new information and evidence were more inclined to adhere to preventive measures and support COVID-19 policies, regardless of their political orientation,” Maglić told PsyPost. In contrast, those who agreed with statements such as “I think that paying attention to people who disagree with me is a waste of time” were less likely to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Those who agreed with statements such as “If I do not know much about some topic, I don’t mind being taught about it, even if I know about other topics” were more likely to report avoiding physical contact with others, maintaining physical hygiene, and supporting COVID-19 restrictive mitigation policies. The researchers found open-mindedness was a substantially stronger predictor of adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors than political orientation. They also completed a self-reported assessment of open-mindedness and completed the Cognitive Reflection Test, which contains questions that tend to generate quick and intuitive - but incorrect - answers. The participants reported their political orientation, adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors, and their level of belief in conspiracy theories about COVID-19. Data was collected during April and May 2020. For their study, the researchers analyzed data from 12,490 participants from 17 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, and the USA.
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