The 7 political groups most likely to believe in astrology

• BY JIM LINDGREN

• February 16 at 6:41 pm

1. Conservative Democrats

In the 2012 General Social Survey, 56.9 percent of conservative Democrats believe that astrology is very or sort of scientific, while only 43.1 percent believe that it is not scientific at all. This support for astrology is the highest among 15 overlapping political groups.

2. Moderate Democrats

The political group that is second most likely to believe in astrology is moderate Democrats. A majority of them — 52.0 percent — think that astrology is at least sort of scientific.

3. Democrats (overall)

Although liberal Democrats are insignificantly less likely than average to believe in astrology (43.5 percent), the difference is not enough to offset the beliefs of moderate and conservative Democrats. Thus, Democrats overall are in the third position, with nearly half (49.1 percent) believing in astrology.

4. Moderate Independents

Fully 48.9 percent of moderate Independents believe in astrology.

5. Liberal Independents

6. Moderates (overall)

7. Independents (overall)

About 48 percent of the independents (48.1 percent), moderates (48.2 percent), and liberal independents (48.3 percent) believe that astrology is at least sort of scientific.

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If we combine four GSS surveys on astrology from 2006 through 2012, Liberal independents drop off the list, but the other six groups take the top six slots in a somewhat different order.

To find out which political groups are least likely to believe in astrology, see “Who Believes That Astrology is Scientific?” To explore the political dynamics on science issues other than astrology (using three decades of data from 1972 through 2002), see the paper, “Who Fears Science?”

Coming Monday: The 6 political groups least likely to believe in astrology