Does Respect Foster Tolerance? (Re)analyzing and Synthesizing Data From a Large Research Project Using Meta-Analytic Techniques

Abstract

Our own prior research has demonstrated that respect for disapproved others predicts and might foster tolerance toward them. This means that without giving up their disapproval of others’ way of life, people can tolerate others when they respect them as equals (outgroup respect–tolerance hypothesis). Still, there was considerable variation in the study features. Moreover, the studies are part of a larger research project that affords many additional tests of our hypothesis. To achieve integration along with a more robust understanding of the relation between respect and tolerance, we (re)analyzed all existing data from this project, and we synthesized the results with the help of meta-analytic techniques. The average standardized regression coefficient, which describes the relationship between respect and tolerance, was 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.16, 0.34]). In addition to this overall confirmation of our hypothesis, the size of this coefficient varied with a number of variables. It was larger for numerical majorities than for minorities, smaller for high-status than for low-status groups, and larger for religious than for life-style groups. These findings should inspire further theory development and spur growth in the social-psychological literature on tolerance.

The vertical structure of collective identities and its predictive value for (in)tolerance of religious groups.

“…Indeed, some religious commandments may also refer to a common and superordinate group, namely humankind (created by God). Finally, by means of the described equality-based respect for disapproved outgroups, tolerance for these outgroups is enabled and promoted (Simon et al, 2019; Zitzmann et al, 2021). This very intergroup tolerance can be considered a reasonable response to intergroup conflicts within modern societies, which take the form of struggles for recognition, taming and pacifying those conflicts while accounting for the needs and demands of the tolerating and tolerated group (Simon, 2020).…”

The meaning of respect under varying context conditions

“…Details for these eight samples are presented in Table 1, including the number of participants, the specific period of data collection, and socio-demographic information. These samples had been used in previous research to address research questions different from the research question of the present article (Paffrath & Simon, 2020;Schaefer & Simon, 2020;Simon & Schaefer, 2016, 2018Simon, Eschert, Schaefer, Reininger, Zitzmann, & Smith, 2019;Zitzmann, Loreth, Reininger, & Simon, 2021). However, the main data analyses reported in this article are novel and have not been published elsewhere.…”

Language and Social Psychology Approaches to Race, Racism, and Social Justice: Analyzing the Past and Revealing Ways Forward

“…Verkuyten et al (2020) presents a schematic model which features in justices (p. 546) as an intergroup outcome. But, for us, in these and other of his works (see, also, Zitamann et al, 2021), there are only passing references to the importance of language and communication - which is curious given Verkuyten's own appeal to language and communicative mechanisms (Cárdenas & Verkuyten, 2021).…”