1,721,102 research outputs found
Different Ways of Being Authoritarian: The Distinct Effects of Authoritarian Dimensions on Values and Prejudice
No full textThe traditional and still dominant approach to authoritarianism measures it as a unidimensional construct. However, in the past few years some studies have assessed the three hypothesized authoritarianism components (i.e., authoritarian submission, authoritarian aggression, and conventionalism) separately. The aims of this study are to verify that the three-correlated-factor structure fits the data better than the one-factor model and to analyze the distinct effects of the three dimensions of authoritarianism on values and prejudice. A total of 169 Italian citizens responded to a questionnaire. As hypothesized, a structural equation model shows that the dimension of authoritarian submission is mainly related to the openness to change vs. conservation values opposition; the dimension of authoritarian aggression is more characterized on the self-transcendence vs. self-enhancement values opposition; conventionalism is mainly linked to traditional values. As concerns prejudice, this variable is predicted just by authoritarian aggression. Theoretical implications as concerns the conceptualization of authoritarianism are discussed
Concern for close or distant others: The distinction between moral identity and moral inclusion
Full text linkResearch has analyzed the relationship between moral identity—the extent to which people experience their moral character as being central to their self-conception—and the inclusion of other people within one’s own moral circle. These studies underline that the higher the moral identity, the larger the moral circle. However, recent studies have observed that a person with a high moral identity feels morally obliged towards close people and may be intolerant towards distant groups. The aim of the present research was to deepen the differences between moral identity and moral inclusion considering prejudicial attitudes, ethnocentrism, altruism and values. The results indicated that moral identity alone does not imply a reduction in intolerant attitudes. Instead, when moral inclusion is considered, the results even show a positive effect of moral identity internalization on prejudice and ethnocentrism. Moreover, moral identity internalization has an effect on values of benevolence, security, tradition and conformity. Hence, a strong moral identity does not denote an extension of one’s own moral circle. Instead, this variable is related to intolerance towards those groups considered not to be included in one’s own moral community
Getting High as Part of a “Bad” Reputation: Social Reputation and Binge Drinking
No full textScholars have paid particular attention to peer influence as supportive of heavy alcohol consumption practices. In this article, attention is paid to studying how social reputation may constitute a relevant concept in understanding peer influence on binge-drinking behavior, functioning as a moderator of the effect of drinking expectancies. A total of 166 Italian adolescents from a secondary school served as participants. As hypothesized, results showed an effect of both drinking expectancies and law-breaking reputation on binge drinking. Moreover, the interaction between these variables was significant. That is, the effect of drinking expectancies on binge drinking was high when the person attached importance to a law-breaking reputation. These results underline the relevance of social reputation for understanding binge-drinking behaviors and suggest that it may be important to discuss with adolescents the effects on “at-risk” behaviors of the image that we want to communicate to others
Songs and flags : concern for Covid-19 and submission to authority
Full text linkThe literature on authoritarianism has shown that the perception of threat and social insecurity is connected to attitudes of submission to authority and a greater acceptance of freedom restraints. In the present research, the relationship between concerns for COVID-19 - measured in terms of the fear of personal and close to others exposure to COVID-19 - on authoritarianism was analysed in Italy while considering participants' basic values as a potential mediator. Results on 406 participants show high mean values on concerns for COVID-19 experienced during the lockdown phase. As hypothesized, such concerns are positively related to authoritarianism, and a mediation analysis showed that the link between these two variables can be explained by the relevance attributed to conservation values
Subtle prejudice and conformism: the intergroup indifference
Full text linkIn understanding the dynamics that lead to the restriction of human rights, social psychology research has mainly
focused on the concept of the banality of evil and of obedience to destructive and immoral orders. However,
some authors have also underlined the relevant role of by standing and, in general, of indifference in supporting
authoritarian policies on a par with the obedience to authority. The aim of this research was to study the notion of
intergroup indifference, defined as being uninterested in problems affecting other social groups. The hypothesis
was that indifferent people should be characterized by subtle modalities of obedience to authority and prejudicial
attitudes, by exclusive attitudes and by conformist and traditional positions. Results showed that participants
who respond with an indifferent stance to some parliamentary bills related to arbitrary policies towards minorities
appear to be characterized by similar scores on subtle prejudice, submission to authority, conventionalism,
willingness to protest, conservative values and moral exclusion attitudes to those people who openly support
such policies. Instead, these two groups differ as concerns more overt hostile attitudes. These data suggest
that indifferent people have a role in supporting arbitrary policies. As a theoretical implication, future research
should consider that intergroup dynamics do not involve just people who obey or disobey authority. People who
apparently do not take up any stance before an authority’s policies should be considered as well
The relationship between value and ideological orientations using the refined theory of basic values
Full text linkBy considering the theory of basic values, several studies have considered the different underlying value patterns of social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA). Recently, the value theory has been developed into a finer set of conceptually distinct values. Specifically, the same key assumptions have been retained, but 19 instead of 10 motivationally distinct values have been distinguished. The aim of the present research is to analyze the relationship between ideological and value orientations, using the refined theory of basic values. In line with previous studies, it was hypothesized that SDO would be mainly placed on the self-enhancement vs. self-transcendence value opposition, while RWA on that of the conservation vs. openness to change. Results on two hundred participants confirm the hypotheses. In particular, dominant people are characterized by a sense of superiority, supremacy, and unfairness, while authoritarian people by the perception of social instability and passive conformism with rules and laws. Moreover, by considering the underlying dimensions of both RWA and SDO, our results provide evidence of some differences existing in their mirror on specific value priorities
From the banality of evil to the complicity of indifference: The effects on intergroup relationships
No full textAs the analysis of historical intergroup conflicts has shown, support for unequal policies was not conveyed just by an uncritical obedience to authorities but also by an indifference towards other social groups. Indifference for others may indeed have a role of complicity in supporting discriminatory policies and arousing intergroup conflicts on par with the obedience to authority identified by the banality-of-evil thesis. In the present manuscript, the aim is to define such indifference and to consider which socio-psychological variables foster its rise, the consequences for intergroup dynamics, as well as the factors that contrast it and support tolerant and constructive intergroup relationships. In particular, indifferent people are characterized by conservative values, less blatant forms of submission to authority and subtle prejudicial attitudes. On the other side, the assumption of social responsibility, an inclusive morality and a more critical and constructive relationship with authority are all relevant factors in contrasting such intergroup indifference
Freedom, democracy, and values: Perception of freedom of choice and readiness to protest
No full textIn so-called democracies, although several political measures have recently curbed citizens’
personal freedom (e.g., 2001 US Patriot Act), no major demonstrations have been
organized against such restrictions. The main idea underlying this manuscript is that
citizens living in democracies often have an overestimated perception of their freedom
of choice. This perception may lead to the risk of not recognizing possible restrictions
of liberties with the consequence of being less prepared to protest in order to defend
them. Some sociopsychological variables that prevent or favor the recognition of these
limitations of freedom of choice in democracies are considered. In particular, a valuebased
political orientation and a strong moral stance toward social equality are thought
to lead citizens to have a more active evaluation of institutional policies regardless of the
political system they live in
Promoting or opposing social change: Political orientations, moral convictions and protest intentions
Full text linkThe issue of the motivations behind the decision as to whether or not to join protest actions has been investigated by many scholars. Inparticular, recent studies have considered violations of one’s own moral convictions and identification with the protest group as the mainpredictors of collective actions. The present research will focus on the three orientations to the political system identified by Kelman andHamilton (1989), which consider distinct reasons behind the attachment to the political system and explain the motivations behindsupporting or opposing the institutions. The aim is to examine whether these three orientations have an effect on collective action (throughmoral convictions, politicized identification, anger, and efficacy) considering social protests both against and in favor of the status quo.Specifically, the political orientations should explain why individuals hold a given attitude (positive or negative) towards a policy position,hold it with moral conviction, and decide to join a protest action. The results of three studies confirm the relevance of considering politicalorientations. Depending on the aim of the protest, each political orientation has a distinct effect on collective action
Competent in the North, passionate in the South: Stereotypes and prejudices between Northern and Southern Italy
No full textNotwithstanding a historical juxtaposition, over the last fifty years few psychologists have studied the stereotypes and prejudices existing between Northern and Southern Italians. The aim of this research was to examine and monitor the stereotypes associated by participants from Northern and Southern Italy in regard to both Northerners and Southerners. Moreover, the influence of attributions of a stereotypical image on prejudicial attitudes and the moderating effect of the social dominance orientation and ideological affiliation on this relationship were examined. Our results showed that adjectives associated to Northern and Southern Italians replicate those identified in classical studies. Moreover, as compared with previous studies, our results indicated the influence of attributions of a traditional image to Southerners in regard to prejudicial attitudes against them and a moderating effect of SDO
- …
