9 Pages Posted: 14 Feb 2014 Last revised: 2 Mar 2014

Date Written: February 20, 2014

Abstract

Who believes that astrology is scientific and who believes that it is not scientific at all? This paper uses representative samples of the adult general public to challenge two of the most common assumptions of political psychology: (1) that a belief in astrology is such a good indicator of conservatism that it is appropriate to use as a measure of conservatism itself; and (2) that Republicans and conservatives tend to hold views opposing science. Data from the 2012 General Social Survey are analyzed and demographic correlates of a belief in astrology are reported by age, gender, education, and region of the country, as well as by political party and conservative-liberal orientation. Also reported are which political groups know that the Earth revolves around the Sun.