A closer look at intergroup threat within the dual process model framework: The mediating role of moral foundations

Abstract

In our study we investigated how right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO) are related to perceived intergroup threat, and also tested the potential mediating role of individualizing and binding moral foundations within this relationship pattern. According to our results, both RWA and SDO enhanced the perceived threat related to immigration. Furthermore, the effect of SDO was partly mediated by individualizing moral foundations, while the effect of RWA was partly mediated by both kinds of moral foundations. It seems that perceived intergroup threat, at least to some extent, is influenced by personal moral preferences that can be derived from individual dispositions and motivations.Keywords: right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, moral foundations, intergroup threat, motivated social cognition Europe will undoubtedly remember 2015 as the year of the evolving refugee crisis. As primary transit zones, many Eastern European countries got involved in this crisis without any significant prior experience in its recent history regarding refugees. It became a politically relevant and highly controversial question in these countries, how to respond to the large wave of immigrants and refugees travelling through the region. The question was framed as a moral dilemma between the moral responsibilities to defend the country from the threat of massimmigration and to help people in need.At the same time, as it is indicated by recent research findings about motivated social cognition and moral psychology, moral judgments are influenced by personal motivations and psychological dispositions that also affect intergroup attitudes (Federico, Weber, Ergun, & Hunt, 2013;Kugler, Jost, & Noorbaloochi, 2014;Milojev et al., 2014). Therefore, these moral judgments are necessarily not impartial. Building upon the recent joint research of the dual process model of prejudice and ideologies and moral foundations theory (Federico et al., 2013; Hadarics & Kende, in press;Kugler et al., 2014;Milojev et al., 2014; Radkiewicz, 2016), we attempt to Psychological Thought psyct.psychopen.eu | 2193-7281 support the assumption that the negative perception of outgroups is related to moral concerns that are derived from individual level dispositions. The Dual Process Model of PrejudiceAccording to the Dual Process Model of Prejudice and Ideologies (DPM), all our socially and ideologically relevant beliefs can be arranged along two well distinguished attitudinal dimensions: right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation (Duckitt, 2001;Duckitt & Sibley, 2009. Both dimensions have their unique motivational background, and have very different environmental and personality-related bases. In the case of the first dimension, the main motivation is to establish and maintain order, security, and stability in the social environment. Consequently, all the beliefs and attitudinal preferences belonging to this dimension help reach this goal. The authors suggested that this attitude cluster can b...

(Im)moral aspects of attitudes towards immigrants: The role of the Dark Tetrad and Moral Foundations

“…These findings are in line with the results of previous studies (Anderson & Cheers, 2018;Hadarics & Kende, 2017Hodson et al, 2009;Koleva et al, 2012) and our hypothesis that both the Dark Tetrad traits and Moral Foundations have an important contribution (negative, except the Individualizing Moral Foundations) in the explanation of prosocial attitudes towards immigrants. Consequently, these findings supported the starting point of this study that attitudes towards immigrants must be considered from the perspective of human morality (see.…”

“…We also propose that the dark personality traits, as more fundamental moral dispositions, will have a more important role in the prediction of a situation-related attitude towards immigrants, which provoke the feeling of threat more directly. Finally, it should be kept in mind that attitudes, values and beliefs mediate the effects of personality traits on prejudices (Sibley et al, 2010), but also that Moral Foundations are important mediators of, for example, relations of the dark personality traits with moral judgments (Djeriouat & Trémolière, 2014), or RWA and SDO with the perceived threat to immigration (Hadarics & Kende, 2017). In line with these, we also speculate that Moral Foundations will mediate the relations between the dark traits and both the general and specific attitudes towards immigrants.…”

“…It means that anti-immigrant attitudes, especially the general ones, are rooted in the domiciles' need for respecting tradition and order (Authority/Respect), and, more importantly, in their fear that immigrants are dangerous and polluting foreign elements (Purity/Sanctity; see also Koleva et al, 2012). Generally, these findings are opposed to the Moral Foundations Theory (Graham et al, 2011(Graham et al, , 2013, but consistent with the existing empirical data (Koleva et al, 2012;Kugler et al, 2014;Hadarics & Kende, 2017.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that different moral concerns mediate the effects of personality traits on prejudices (Sibley et al, 2010), moral judgments (Djeriouat & Trémolière, 2014), and even on the perceived threat of immigration (Hadarics & Kende, 2017). Međedović and Bulut (2017) also suggested that some ideological dispositions could mediate the relations between the Dark Tetrad traits and their socially relevant correlates.…”

“…When it comes to Moral Foundations and their relations with prejudices and attitudes towards immigrants, Kugler and colleagues (Kugler et al, 2014) found that Individualizing moral concerns, especially Fairness/Reciprocity, had negative effects, but all three Binding moral concerns had positive effects on intergroup hostility and support for discrimination against foreigners and immigrants. Similarly, Binding moral foundations (especially Purity/Sanctity and Authority/Respect) were positively associated with anti-immigrant attitudes (Koleva et al, 2012); however, the Individualizing ones were negatively associated with the perceived threat regarding immigration, both realistic and symbolic (Hadarics & Kende, 2017), and a negative behavioural intention towards the Muslim people, especially immigrants (Hadarics & Kende, 2018).…”