I won't listen if I think we're losing our way: How right-wing authoritarianism affects the response to different anti-prejudice messages

Prejudice reduction messages have been shown to be effective through changing norms. Previous research suggests that Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) moderates the reaction to these messages, but it is unclear whether individuals high in RWA are more or less sensitive to prejudice-reduction campaig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2023-01, Vol.18 (1), p.e0280557-e0280557
Main Authors: Bouguettaya, Ayoub, Vergani, Matteo, Sainsbury, Chloe, Bliuc, Ana-Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Authoritarianism
Bans
Biology and Life Sciences
Christian Islamic relations
Electioneering
Group dynamics
Humans
Immigration policy
Intergroup relations
Messages
Muslims
Norms
People and Places
Personality
Political campaigns
Politics
Prejudice
Prejudices
Psychological aspects
Psychological research
Reduction
Refugees
Research and Analysis Methods
Resistance
Right and left (Political science)
Right wing politics
Social Dominance
Social Identification
Social identity
Social Sciences
Stereotypes
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Summary:Prejudice reduction messages have been shown to be effective through changing norms. Previous research suggests that Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) moderates the reaction to these messages, but it is unclear whether individuals high in RWA are more or less sensitive to prejudice-reduction campaigns. This research used the social identity approach to investigate the role of RWA in moderating the reactions to messages that look to reduce support for prejudicial policies and associated prejudice against an ethnoreligious group (Muslims). Americans (N = 388) were presented with statements on a real, proposed ban on Muslim immigration into the US from an in-group member (i.e., an American freight worker who disapproves of the Muslim ban), outgroup member (an Iraqi refugee who is in favour if the Muslim ban), or both, or control message. Those high in RWA showed consistently high levels of prejudice against Muslims in all conditions, but those low in RWA showed lower prejudice when presented with the anti-prejudice message from an in-group member (compared to control). This suggests that anti-prejudice messages primarily affect those with low RWA, clarifying that RWA likely leads to resistance to anti-prejudice messages regardless of the source. Future research aiming to reduce prejudice should examine how messages can be tailored to reduce prejudice in those with high RWA.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0280557