The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland
Actively open-minded thinking (AOT) is a set of standards for good thinking, including avoiding overconfidence and a willingness to change one’s mind in response to new information. While AOT is theorized to aid individuals in navigating complex and polarizing issues, little prior literature has exa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1565928/full |
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| author | Alex Segrè Cohen Angela Bearth Caitlin Drummond Otten |
| author_facet | Alex Segrè Cohen Angela Bearth Caitlin Drummond Otten |
| author_sort | Alex Segrè Cohen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Actively open-minded thinking (AOT) is a set of standards for good thinking, including avoiding overconfidence and a willingness to change one’s mind in response to new information. While AOT is theorized to aid individuals in navigating complex and polarizing issues, little prior literature has examined the role of AOT in public responses to emerging technologies. This study examines how engagement in AOT relates to civic and political action on genome editing. This controversial technology modifies plant genes for improved traits, offering transformative possibilities but bearing associated risks and uncertainties. We conducted surveys in the United States and Switzerland, two countries with different regulations toward genome-edited foods. We find inconsistent evidence for predictions between AOT and willingness to engage in actions supporting or opposing genome editing; further, in several cases, relationships varied by country. We discuss the implications for future research on AOT and public engagement in emerging technologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efea8ae526fd421d811149658b7ff0fe |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-efea8ae526fd421d811149658b7ff0fe2025-08-20T01:59:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15659281565928The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and SwitzerlandAlex Segrè Cohen0Angela Bearth1Caitlin Drummond Otten2Center for Science Communication Research, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United StatesHF Partners, Zurich, SwitzerlandSchool of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United StatesActively open-minded thinking (AOT) is a set of standards for good thinking, including avoiding overconfidence and a willingness to change one’s mind in response to new information. While AOT is theorized to aid individuals in navigating complex and polarizing issues, little prior literature has examined the role of AOT in public responses to emerging technologies. This study examines how engagement in AOT relates to civic and political action on genome editing. This controversial technology modifies plant genes for improved traits, offering transformative possibilities but bearing associated risks and uncertainties. We conducted surveys in the United States and Switzerland, two countries with different regulations toward genome-edited foods. We find inconsistent evidence for predictions between AOT and willingness to engage in actions supporting or opposing genome editing; further, in several cases, relationships varied by country. We discuss the implications for future research on AOT and public engagement in emerging technologies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1565928/fullgenome editingnew genomic techniquespublic perceptions of emerging technologiesactively open-minded thinkingcivic engagement |
| spellingShingle | Alex Segrè Cohen Angela Bearth Caitlin Drummond Otten The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland Frontiers in Psychology genome editing new genomic techniques public perceptions of emerging technologies actively open-minded thinking civic engagement |
| title | The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland |
| title_full | The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland |
| title_short | The role of actively open-minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome-edited food in the United States and Switzerland |
| title_sort | role of actively open minded thinking in willingness to take civic and political action on genome edited food in the united states and switzerland |
| topic | genome editing new genomic techniques public perceptions of emerging technologies actively open-minded thinking civic engagement |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1565928/full |
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