At a time when pseudoscience threatens the survival of communities, understanding this vulnerability, and how to reduce it, is paramount. Four preregistered experiments (N = 532, N = 472, N = 605, N = 382) with online U.S. samples introduced false claims concerning a (fictional) virus created as a bioweapon, mirroring conspiracy theories about COVID-19, and carcinogenic effects of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). We identify two critical determinants of vulnerability to pseudoscience. First, participants who trust science are more likely to believe and disseminate false claims that contain scientific references than false claims that do not. Second, reminding participants of the value of critical evaluation reduces belief in false claims, whereas reminders of the value of trusting science do not. We conclude that trust in science, although desirable in many ways, makes people vulnerable to pseudoscience. These findings have implications for science broadly and the application of psychological science to curbing misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

在伪科学威胁社区生存的时代，了解这种脆弱性以及如何减少这种脆弱性至关重要。四个预先注册的实验（N  = 532、N  = 472、N  = 605、N = 382）美国在线样本引入了关于作为生物武器创建的（虚构）病毒的虚假声明，反映了有关 COVID-19 的阴谋论以及 GMO（转基因生物）的致癌作用。我们确定了伪科学脆弱性的两个关键决定因素。首先，相信科学的参与者更有可能相信和传播包含科学参考的虚假声明，而不是不包含科学参考的虚假声明。其次，提醒参与者批判性评估的价值会减少对错误主张的信念，而提醒相信科学的价值则不会。我们得出的结论是，对科学的信任，尽管在许多方面是可取的，但会使人们容易受到伪科学的影响。