Summary
Many people throughout history have believed the world is ending, with 39% of Americans feeling this way today. This belief may stem from a tendency to focus on negative events and perceive a decline in goodness over time. Consequently, the idea of an impending apocalypse seems reasonable to many, even as significant progress continues in the world.
Highlights
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Apocalyptic expectations are so common across time and place that they seem like the cosmic background radiation of the mind.