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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

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Published on: September 28, 2018

Analytic thinking promotes religious disbelief.

Will M Gervais1, Ara Norenzayan

  • 1University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. will@psych.ubc.ca

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 28, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Analytical thinking, or analytic processing, is linked to religious disbelief. Studies show that engaging in more analytical thought can lead to a decrease in religious belief.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Psychology of Religion

Background:

  • Growing scientific interest in the cognitive basis of religious belief.
  • Limited research on cognitive factors influencing religious disbelief.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of analytic processing in promoting religious disbelief.
  • To test the hypothesis that analytic cognitive processes contribute to religious skepticism.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a dual-process model of cognitive processing.
  • Measured individual differences in analytic reasoning tendencies.
  • Employed experimental manipulations to trigger analytic processing.

Main Results:

  • A positive correlation was found between analytic processing and religious disbelief.
  • Experimental induction of analytic thought led to increased religious disbelief.
  • Evidence suggests a causal link between analytic processing and reduced religious belief.

Conclusions:

  • Analytic processing is a significant cognitive factor contributing to religious disbelief.
  • These findings shed light on the cognitive influences shaping religious skepticism.
  • Further research can explore the interplay of cognitive factors in religious belief and disbelief.