Harmful Ideas, The Structure and Consequences of Anti‐Semitic Beliefs in Poland

Abstract

The harmfulness of anti‐Semitic beliefs is widely discussed in current political and legal debates (e.g., Cutler v. Dorn). At the same time, empirical studies of the psychological consequences of such beliefs are scarce. The present research is an attempt to explore the structure of contemporary anti‐Semitic beliefs in Poland—and to evaluate their predictive role in discriminatory intentions and behavior targeting Jews. Another aim was to determine dispositional, situational, and identity correlates of different forms of anti‐Semitic beliefs and behavior. Study 1, performed on a nation‐wide representative sample of Polish adults (N = 979), suggests a three‐factorial structure of anti‐Semitic beliefs, consisting of: (1) belief in Jewish conspiracy, (2) traditional religious anti‐Judaic beliefs, and (3) secondary anti‐Semitic beliefs, focusing on Holocaust commemoration. Of these three beliefs, belief in Jewish conspiracy was the closest antecedent of anti‐Semitic behavioral intentions. Study 2 (N = 600 Internet users in Poland) confirmed the three‐factor structure of anti‐Semitic beliefs and proved that these beliefs explain actual behavior toward Jews in monetary donations. Both studies show that anti‐Semitic beliefs are related to authoritarian personality characteristics, victimhood‐based social identity, and relative deprivation.

We believe in your conspiracy if we distrust you: the role of intergroup distrust in structuring the effect of Islamic identification, competitive victimhood, and group incompatibility on belief in a conspiracy theory

“…However, the powerless need media such as relative deprivation (Bilewicz & Krzeminski, 2010) and competitive victimhood (Bilewicz, Winiewski, Kofta, & Wójcik, 2013) through which to justify and legitimize their belief in a conspiracy theory. In the context of intergroup conflict, victimhood denotes a feeling or a mindset shared by group members that they collectively suffer from other groups' immoral and unjust harm-doings (Bar-Tal, Chernyak-Hai, Schori, & Gundar, 2009).…”

What inverted U can do for your country: A curvilinear relationship between confidence in the social system and political engagement.

“…Although voting can serve to express support for the status quo, political campaigns often promote agendas designed to improve the present state of affairs, even if proposed changes are only incremental or have the larger aim to restore the way society is assumed to have worked in the past (e.g., see Jost, Glaser, Kruglanski, & Sulloway, 2003). This dataset was analyzed by Bilewicz, Winiewski, Kofta, and Wójcik (2013), Cichocka, Winiewski, Bilewicz, Bukowski, and Jost (2015), and Golec de Zavala, Cichocka, and Bilewicz (2013), but none of these other studies considered the relationship between system confidence and political engagement. In line with institutional guidelines on externally funded survey research, this study was exempt from research ethics committee approval.…”

Does Self-Love or Self-Hate Predict Conspiracy Beliefs? Narcissism, Self-Esteem, and the Endorsement of Conspiracy Theories

“…One prevalent hypothesis in this line of inquiry has been that conspiracy theories are usually endorsed by individuals who show poor psychological adjustment or are in some way socially disadvantaged. Conspiracy beliefs have been linked to powerlessness (Abalakina- Paap, Stephan, Craig, & Gregory, 1999), feelings of relative deprivation (Bilewicz, Winiewski, Kofta, & Wójcik, 2013), anomie (Abalakina- Paap et al, 1999;Imhoff & Bruder, 2014), lack of personal control (Whitson & Galinsky, 2008;cf. Bruder, Haffke, Neave, Nouripanah, & Imhoff, 2013), uncertainty (van Prooijen & Jostmann, 2012;Whitson, Galinsky, & Kay, 2015), and being a member of a disadvantaged group (Abalkina- Paap et al, 1999;Crocker, Luhtanen, Broadnax, & Blaine, 1999;Goertzel, 1994).…”