Table 1.

Ten sociological characteristics of science denialists and pseudo-theory promoters (adapted from Hansson 2017b)

Characteristics
Considering the target theory as a threat (e.g., evolution theory is considered a threat to traditional religion)	Primarily prominent in science denial
Finding the target theory complex and difficult to understand (pedagogical difficulty in understanding of evidence built on interdisciplinary data—e.g., climate science)
Engaging in personal attacks on legitimate scientists (e.g., the anti-relativists of the 1920s and 1930s who prevented Einstein from visiting Germany)
Lacking competence in conducting scientific research or teaching science (among the opponents of climate science and evolution theory, the participation of competent scientists has been small)	Prominent in both science denial and pseudo-theory promotion
Failing to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Blaming conspiracy theories for failing to publish in scientific journals and gain a recognition (e.g., seeing relativity theory as part of a larger Jewish conspiracy and believing that the prestigious physics journals are under Jewish control)
Targeting the public (denialists tend to disseminate their views through outlets intended for the public)
Giving a false impression of having support in the scientific community (denialists create institutes, conferences, and journals to impress the public such as The Academy of Nations and The Creation Research Society)
Having a denialist literature dominated by males (women are less likely to take part in the activities of evolution and climate change denial)	More prominent in science denial, less prominent in pseudo-theory promotion
Strong political connections (e.g., Nazi newspapers attack against the relativity theory, evolution denial dominated by a Christian right-wing, and climate change denial dominated by a more business-oriented right-wing politics)