On the roots of, and solutions to, the persistent battle between "chemonoia" and rationalist denialism of the subjective nature of human cognition

Despite remarkable advances over the past 35 years in the field of toxicology generally, and the development of a vast body of knowledge detailing the nature and degree of many human and environmental toxicological risks, the excessive fear of anything connected with chemicals that some refer to as "chemonoia" persists. So too, unfortunately, does the rationalist belief that once the facts are all in, everyone will agree on what those facts say. This article examines the roots of what is essentially a cultural conflict, explains what various bodies of social science research reveal about the psychological roots of that conflict, and offers suggestions on how to move forward.