THE ROPER POLL: Most Americans Psychologically Prepared for Proof of Extraterrestrial Life

Three in Four (74 percent) Claim They Are At Least Somewhat Psychologically Prepared For an Official Government Announcement Regarding the Discovery of Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life

Clearly, a majority of Americans are ready for the discovery of extraterrestrial life, with 42 percent saying they are "very prepared" and 32 percent saying they are "somewhat prepared." Psychological preparedness is particularly common among the following demographic groups:

• Males (83%)
• 18-to-64-year-olds (79%)
• Those with household incomes of $50,000 or more (85%)
• Residents of the West (82%)
• Those with Internet access at home (82%)

Americans who believe in extraterrestrial phenomena and who claim to have had, or know someone who had, a Close Encounter of their own are also significantly more likely to say they are psychologically prepared for the discovery of intelligent life.




Announcement of Extraterrestrial Life Would Not Prompt a Religious Crisis

Very few Americans say that an official government announcement about the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life would cause them to question their religious beliefs. A full 88 percent say that such an announcement would have no impact on their religious beliefs.

As age increases, so does the likelihood that religious beliefs will not be changed by the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Those 50 years of age and over are significantly more likely than 18-to-24-year-olds to claim that such a discovery would have no impact on their beliefs at all.


Those who say that they are "very psychologically prepared" for the discovery of extraterrestrial life are more inclined to believe that their religious beliefs will not be affected by such a discovery. However, the reverse is true of those who are "very" interested in encountering an extraterrestrial themselves — they are less likely to state that their religious beliefs would not be changed by the discovery of intelligent life.




Many Would Like to Meet Extraterrestrial Life Here on Earth When it comes to encountering extraterrestrial life forms themselves, more than half (52%) of Americans say they would be very or somewhat interested. Interest is especially strong among males and among 18-24 year olds as opposed to those 50 and older.


Not surprisingly, believers of extraterrestrial phenomena and those with personal experiences relating to such phenomena are more inclined to take an interest in meeting intelligent life forms themselves. Interest is also higher among Americans who believe the U.S. government does not share enough information with the public and does not tell us everything it knows about extraterrestrial life and UFOs.


Percentage of Respondents Who Were "Very/Somewhat Interested" in Meeting Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life, Among Those Who…

• Believe in intelligent life: 64%
  
  
• Believe in abductions: 83%
  
  
• Have had, or know someone who had, a Close Encounter: 79%
  
  
• Feel they are "very psychologically prepared" for the discovery of extraterrestrial life: 67%
  
  
• Think the government does not share enough information with the public: 58%
  
  
• Believe the government does not tell us everything it knows about extraterrestrial life and UFOs: 58%