As the world teeters on the edge of WWIII, it’s not surprising that some people feel the apocalypse is imminent.
Now, experts have revealed there are five ‘dimensions’ to the end of the world that influence the way people think and act.
A team from the University of British Columbia surveyed more than 3,400 people and found apocalyptic thinking is no longer confined to the fringes of society.
People think about the apocalypse in multiple ways – including when it might happen, who or what would cause it and whether it’s something to fear or welcome.
These beliefs are strongly linked to how people perceive and respond to global risks like climate change, pandemics, nuclear conflict and emerging technologies like AI, the researchers said.
Of the study sample, which included participants from the US and Canada, nearly one–third of Americans said they believe the world will end during their lifetime.
‘Belief in the end of the world is surprisingly common… and it’s significantly influencing how people interpret and respond to the most pressing threats facing humanity,’ said lead author Dr Matthew Billet, from the University of British Columbia.
‘Everyone agrees on one thing: We humans play an important role in the fate of our species.’
As the world teeters on the edge of WWIII, it’s not surprising some may feel the apocalypse is imminent. Pictured: A member of the Israeli security and rescue forces works at the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Tel Aviv
For decades, humans have believed in the end of the world, from biblical references to Judgement Day to the idea that computers would fail at the turn of the millennium, causing society to collapse.
At the end of 2012 some people were certain the date 21/12/2012 represented the end of a long count cycle in the Mayan calendar that would bring cataclysmic disasters.
And the film ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ focuses on a global ice–age, triggered by climate change, that threatens the world.
None of these events have yet occurred, but experts wanted to find out why some people still strongly believe in the end of the world – and if they do anything about it.
For the study, the team developed a psychological measure of end–of–world beliefs, identifying the key aspects that shape how people behave.
They include ‘perceived closeness’ – how soon the apocalypse will occur.
People who score highly on this are likely to agree with the statement: ‘There are constantly things happening in the world that tell me the apocalypse will happen very soon.’
Next is ‘anthropogenic causality’, which is whether it will be caused by humans. People who score highly for this could likely say: ‘Human stupidity will likely destroy the entire world.’
Participants from different religions scored differently for each dimension – with nonreligious people tending to score the lowest
In the apocalyptic Hollywood blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow (pictured), ocean currents around the world stop as a result of global warming, triggering a new ice age on Earth
‘Theogenic causality’, the third dimension, indicates whether divine or supernatural forces will trigger the end of days.
People who agree strongly with this might proclaim the apocalypse is ‘predicted by religious prophecies’ or is ‘part of a cosmic plan for the universe’.
Fourth is ‘personal control’ – a reference to how much influence each individual has over the outcome.
For example, people might believe their ‘good behaviour’ or personal choices can influence whether the apocalypse will happen.
Finally, emotional valence – whether the end of the world will ultimately be good or bad – is the fifth dimension.
People who think it will be a positive thing may say: ‘The apocalypse is a necessary step toward utopia.’
The researchers discovered that those who believed the end is near and that humans are causing it perceived greater risk and supported more extreme action to address threats.
However, those who believed divine forces control the apocalypse were less likely to support preventive measures.
Apocalyptic films, such as Mad Max (pictured), often imagine that the end of days would lead to violent outbursts
Dr Billet said the research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, comes at a critical moment when global coordination is essential to address existential threats – such as from pandemics or climate change.
Rather than dismissing apocalyptic thinking as irrational, he argues that understanding these beliefs is essential for effective communication and policy–making in an increasingly divided society.
‘Whether or not any particular apocalyptic narrative is accurate, they are still consequential for how populations confront concrete risks,’ he said.
‘If we want to build consensus around addressing climate change, AI safety or pandemic preparedness, we need to understand how different communities are interpreting these threats through their own cultural lenses.
‘In a world facing genuine catastrophic risks, that understanding has never been more important.’
What is the Doomsday clock and what does it mean?
What is the Doomsday Clock?
The Doomsday Clock was created by the Bulletin, an independent non-profit organization run by some of the world’s most eminent scientists.
It was founded by concerned US scientists involved in the Manhattan Project, which developed the world’s first nuclear weapons during World War II.
In 1947, they established the clock to provide a simple way of demonstrating the danger to the Earth and humanity posed by nuclear war.
The Doomsday Clock not only takes into account the likelihood of nuclear Armageddon but also other emerging threats such as climate change and advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
The Doomsday Clock was created by the Bulletin, an independent non-profit organization run by some of the world’s most eminent scientists
It is symbolic and represents a countdown to possible global catastrophe.
The decision to move, or leave the clock alone, is made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, in consultation with the bulletin’s Board of Sponsors, which includes 16 Nobel laureates.
The clock has become a universally recognised indicator of the world’s vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies in life sciences.
In 2020, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an expert group formed in 1945, adjusted the Doomsday Clock 100 seconds to midnight, the closest we’ve ever come to total destruction – and it remained there in 2021.
That sent a message that the Earth was closer to oblivion than any time since the early days of hydrogen bomb testing and 1984, when US-Soviet relations reached ‘their iciest point in decades.’
The Bulletin also considered world leaders response to the coronavirus pandemic, feeling it was so poor that the clock needed to remain in its perilously close to midnight position.
The closer to midnight the clock moves the closer to annihilation humanity is.
How has the clock changed since 1947?
- 1947 – 48: 7 minutes
- 1949 – 52: 3 minutes
- 1953 – 59: 2 minutes
- 1960 – 62: 7 minutes
- 1963 – 67: 12 minutes
- 1968: 7 minutes
- 1969 – 71: 10 minutes
- 1972 – 73: 12 minutes
- 1974 – 79: 9 minutes
- 1980: 7 minutes
- 1981 – 83: 4 minutes
- 1984 – 87: 3 minutes
- 1988 – 89: 6 minutes
- 1990: 10 minutes
- 1991 – 94: 17 minutes
- 1995 – 97: 14 minutes
- 1998 – 2001: 9 minutes
- 2002 – 06: 7 minutes
- 2007 – 09: 5 minutes
- 2010 – 11: 6 minutes
- 2012 – 14: 5 minutes
- 2015 – 16: 3 minutes
- 2017 – 2.5 minutes
- 2018 – 2 minutes
- 2019 – 2 minutes
- 2020 – 100 seconds
- 2021 – 100 seconds
- 2022 – 100 seconds
- 2023 – 90 seconds
- 2024 – 90 seconds
