Study finds intelligence and education predict disbelief in astrology

A recent study published in the Journal of Individual Differences finds that cognitive ability and educational background are the strongest predictors of whether someone considers astrology scientific.

Analyzing data from over 8,500 Americans, researchers discovered that previously suggested explanations—such as spirituality, religious beliefs, or political orientation—played surprisingly minor roles in astrological belief.

Despite clear scientific consensus that astrology lacks predictive validity, it maintains remarkable popularity in modern society. Nearly 30% of Americans believe astrology is scientific, and horoscope apps continue to attract millions of users. This widespread acceptance of astrological principles prompted researchers Tobias Edwards and colleagues to investigate an interesting question: What factors determine who believes in astrology?

The research team tested four competing hypotheses. The “superficial knowledge” hypothesis proposes that limited education and cognitive ability increase susceptibility to pseudoscientific beliefs. Alternative explanations suggested that astrological belief might stem from science skepticism, spiritual tendencies, or authoritarian personality traits. With inconsistent findings from previous smaller studies, the researchers sought definitive answers through large-scale analysis.

The investigators analyzed data from the General Social Survey (GSS), a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults conducted regularly since 1972. The final dataset included 8,553 participants who answered the question “Do you believe astrology is scientific?” with one of three responses: “not at all scientific,” “sort of scientific,” or “very scientific.”

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To assess potential predictors, the researchers measured intelligence using Wordsum, a 10-item vocabulary test that is strongly associated with general cognitive ability. Education was recorded as years of formal schooling completed. Trust in science was measured by participants’ self-reported confidence in the scientific community. Religiosity and spirituality were self-rated on separate four-point scales. Political orientation was rated on a seven-point scale from “extremely liberal” to “extremely conservative.”

The study controlled for demographic variables including sex, age, and race, and employed statistical weighting techniques to ensure the sample accurately represented the broader population.

The results provided evidence that intelligence and education significantly influence belief in astrology. Participants scoring lower on the Wordsum test were considerably more likely to consider astrology scientific. Similarly, those with fewer years of formal education showed stronger tendencies to endorse astrology’s scientific legitimacy. These findings strongly support the “superficial knowledge” hypothesis.

Contrary to expectations, other proposed explanations received little empirical support. Trust in science showed only a minimal relationship with astrological belief. Religiosity and spirituality had no significant association with astrological beliefs, challenging the notion that astrology serves as a substitute for religious faith. Political orientation demonstrated no meaningful correlation with belief in astrology, contradicting earlier European studies that linked right-wing authoritarianism to greater acceptance of astrological concepts.

These findings challenge common assumptions about why people believe in astrology, highlighting cognitive ability and educational background as the predominant factors.

A notable limitation involves the study’s measurement approach. By specifically asking whether participants believed astrology was “scientific,” the research may have missed individuals who believe in astrology without considering it scientific.

Despite decades of scientific evidence refuting astrological claims, belief in astrology persists among significant portions of the population. This research suggests that educational initiatives enhancing critical thinking skills and scientific literacy may be the most effective approach for addressing pseudoscientific beliefs.

The study, “Intelligence and Individual Differences in Astrological Belief,” was authored by Tobias Edwards, Magdalena J. March, Emily A. Willoughby, and Alexandros Giannelis.