Need for Closure and Perceived Threat as Bases of Right-Wing Authoritarianism: A Longitudinal Moderation Approach

Abstract

Paper accepted for publication in Social Cognition AbstractEpistemic motives and threat have been considered important bases of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) for a long time. Yet, the interplay between these variables has hardly been investigated. The present study therefore examined how the interaction between dispositional Need for Closure (NFC) and perceived external threat, in addition to RWA. In a representative sample collected in the Netherlands (N = 588), the results revealed cross-sectional as well as longitudinal interaction effects. In particular, higher levels of NFC were related to higher levels of RWA when individuals perceived relatively low levels of external threat. However, when the levels of perceived threat were relatively high, NFC was not significantly related to RWA. We discuss the importance of taking into account perceived contextual factors in theorizing on the motivated social cognitive basis of authoritarian ideology.

Do as the Romans do: On the authoritarian roots of pseudoscience

“…Specifically, by means of heightened levels of two of its dimensions: epistemic motivation for non-specific closure (elicited by authoritarian conventionalism) and hyperactive search for epistemic authorities within one's reference group (elicited by authoritarian submission). There is a strong relationship between authoritarianism and need for closure (De Keersmaecker, Roets, Dhont, Van Assche, Onraet, & Van Hiel, 2017) that motivates subjects to close their minds by "seizing" on accommodating information and "freezing" beliefs, thus becoming impervious to adverse data (Kruglanski & Webster, 1996). Group centrismi.e.…”

“…Specifically, by means of heightened levels of two of its dimensions: epistemic motivation for non-specific closure (elicited by authoritarian conventionalism) and hyperactive search for epistemic authorities within one’s reference group (elicited by authoritarian submission). There is a strong relationship between authoritarianism and need for closure (De Keersmaecker et al, 2017) that motivates subjects to close their minds by ‘seizing’ on accommodating information and ‘freezing’ beliefs, thus becoming impervious to adverse data (Kruglanski and Webster, 1996). Group centrism – that is, the degree to which individuals strive to enhance the ‘shared-reality’ of their collectivity (Kruglanski et al, 2006) – involves uniformity pressures, such as denigrating the dissenters or extolling the conformists, in order to achieve group consensus (Kruglanski and Webster, 1991).…”

Toward an Integrated Cognition Perspective on Ethnic Prejudice

“…Such attitudes are highly attractive for individuals high (vs. low) in NFC (Chirumbolo, 2002; Onraet, Van Hiel, Roets, & Cornelis, 2011) because a society, where all members adhere to the same traditional norms and obey to authorities, provides a sense of order and predictability and protects against ambiguity and uncertainty. Both experimental (Kruglanski & Webster, 1991; Kruglanski, Webster, & Klem, 1993; Pierro, Mannetti, De Grada, Livi, & Kruglanski, 2003) and longitudinal (De keersmaecker et al, 2017) studies have provided evidence that higher (vs. lower) levels of NFC indeed result in higher levels of RWA. Importantly, a key aspect of RWA is that it promotes aversion of and hostility toward individuals and groups that differ from the majority and its traditional norms.…”

Need for Closure Effects on Affective and Cognitive Responses to Culture Fusion

“…Importantly, the theoretical rationale for a causal relationship between NFC and RWA has also been corroborated by experimental research, demonstrating that situationally induced NFC elicits typical expressions of authoritarianism, such as the development of an autocratic leadership structure in groups (Pierro, Mannetti, De Grada, Livi, & Kruglanski, 2003), increased conformity (Kruglanski, Webster, & Klem, 1993), and the rejection of opinion deviates (Kruglanski & Webster, 1991). More recently, also longitudinal research by De keersmaecker and colleagues (2016) confirmed the direction of this relationship, showing that individuals’ level of NFC predicted levels of RWA one year later, beyond their initial levels of RWA.…”