Can the activation of analytic cognitive style determine endorsement of secular belief?

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of analytical thought priming on individual secular beliefs. In Study 1 (N = 64), we employed analytical thinking priming and examined whether such priming can influence the participants' endorsement of secular belief. In Study 2 (N = 85), we employed another form of treatment condition to enhance analytical thinking and explored what components of secular beliefs were most affected by such condition. The results of both studies showed that participants primed to think with an analytic style possess higher secular belief, but not for all the domains of secular belief. We focused the discussion on the implications of these findings and the strength of secular belief measure.