Expressions of uncertainty in invisible scientific and religious phenomena during naturalistic conversation

Across cultures, studies report more confidence in the existence of unobservable scientific phenomena, such as germs, as compared to unobservable religious phenomena, such as angels. We investigated a potential cultural mechanism for the transmission of confidence in the existence of invisible entities. Specifically, we asked whether parents in societies with markedly different religious profiles-Iran and China-signal differential confidence across the domains of science and religion during unmoderated conversations with their children (N = 120 parent-child dyads in total; 5-to 11-year-olds). The results revealed that parents used fewer lexical cues to uncertainty when discussing scientific phenomena, as compared to religious phenomena. Unsurprisingly, this cross-domain distinction was observed among majority belief, secular parents in China (Study 2). More impor-tantly, however, the same pattern was observed among parents in Iran, a highly religious society (Study 1), as well as among minority belief, religious parents in China (Study 2). Thus, adults in markedly different belief communities spontaneously express less confidence in religious, as compared to scientific, invisible entities in naturalistic conversation. These findings contribute to theories on the role of culture and testimony in the development of beliefs about unobservable phenomena.

Automated summary

Studies show that people have more confidence in the existence of unobservable scientific phenomena compared to unobservable religious phenomena across cultures. This research investigated the cultural mechanism for the transmission of confidence in invisible entities by studying the conversations between parents and children in Iran and China, which have different religious profiles. The results revealed that parents expressed less uncertainty when discussing scientific phenomena compared to religious phenomena, regardless of religious or secular beliefs. These findings contribute to understanding the role of culture and testimony in the development of beliefs about unobservable phenomena.