Mad Scientists, Bad Impressions?: The Influence of Superhero Television on Children’s Epistemic Trust in Scientists

Abstract

Although research suggests that popular media can shape adults’ perceptions of scientists, studies with younger audiences remain scarce. In this preregistered online experiment, children aged 8–12 (N = 256) viewed an animated television program that featured women who varied in their character role (i.e., superheroes vs. supervillains) and character description (i.e., labeled vs. not labeled as scientists). Children reported high levels of epistemic trust in scientists overall. However, viewing a villainous woman who was labeled (vs. not labeled) as a scientist led to slight reductions in epistemic trust. Furthermore, habitual exposure to superhero television negatively predicted one dimension of epistemic trust (i.e., perceived benevolence). We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings and offer practical suggestions for content design.