Why Some People Reject Evolution: A Social View

Surveys show most people accept evolution, but a group still doubts it. Researchers examined nine large surveys from the UK, Canada, Australia, US, Argentina, Spain and Germany. Two of these studies were done in 2017, while the other seven took place in 2023. The results confirm that belief in evolution is common across these countries. Yet a minority still rejects it. The study suggests that this rejection can come from how people see themselves in social groups. When a person feels strongly about their group, they may dismiss ideas that seem to clash with the group's values.This is called social projection and counter‑projection. It means people project their group’s beliefs onto others, then push back against ideas that challenge the group's identity. By looking at evolution scepticism through this lens, scientists see a new reason why some think science and religion must fight. It shows that the conflict is partly imagined by social dynamics, not just factual disagreement.