Social and ecological dominance orientations: Two sides of the same coin? Social and ecological dominance orientations predict decreased support for climate change mitigation policies

Abstract

In this article, we examine the roles of social dominance orientation (SDO) and ecological dominance orientation (EDO) as predictors of climate change risk and threat perceptions and associated pro-environmental policy support. EDO is a novel measure that we devised based on social dominance theory to assess general preferences for an anthropocentric, hierarchical arrangement between humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment. Across two pre-registered studies ( N = 715; USA and Germany) our results indicate that SDO and EDO are uniquely associated with decreased support for climate change mitigation policies benefitting humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment. These relationships in turn are partially mediated by decreased climate change risk and threat perceptions. We successfully replicate our findings using a more behavioral measure as dependent variable. Notably, using a more behavioral measure (Study 2), EDO was significantly associated with pro-environmental behavior but not SDO, when threats are accounted for as mediators.

The roots of ecological dominance orientation: Assessing individual preferences for an anthropocentric and hierarchically organized world

“…We concur with these basic assumptions that SDO generalizes onto the interspecies and human-environment domains via support for hierarchy-legitimizing myths and acknowledge and build upon the insights provided hitherto. However, in contrast to these explanations, in a previous study, we have argued that ecological dominance might represent a psychologically meaningful and distinct entity in and for itself (Uenal, Sidanius, & van der Linden, 2021). More to the point, we have argued that ecological dominance might qualify as an independent upstream predictor of hierarchy-legitimizing myths with downstream consequences.…”

“…More specifically, across two studies, we have shown that SDO and EDO are (a) moderately associated with each other (raverage = .45), (b) significantly higher among male participants (vs. females), and (c) uniquely and negatively associated with climate change risk and threat perceptions and support for proenvironmental behavior. Notably, EDO was negatively associated with pro-environmental behavior (e.g., signing ostensibly real online petitions), while SDO showed no such relationship (Uenal, Sidanius, & van der Linden, 2021).…”

“…Yet, although theoretical and empirical work on humans' ecological dominance and its consequences has progressed in many scientific disciplines, the psychology of ecological dominance remains understudied (cf. Uenal, Sidanius, & van der Linden, 2021). Previous research indicates a close relationship between social and ecological dominance motives (e.g., Caviola et al, 2019;Costello & Hodson, 2010;Dhont & Hodson, 2014;Graça, 2020;Jylhä & Akrami, 2015;Milfont et al, 2018;.…”

“…Importantly, these findings suggest co-evolution between ecological dominance and more hierarchically organized forms of social arrangements. Consequently, social dominance orientation could be construed as an emerging mechanism by which social hierarchies are enforced and maintained on the psychological level (Uenal, Sidanius, & van der Linden, 2021).…”

“…Building on our previous results (Uenal, Sidanius, & van der Linden, 2021), in Study 1a, we aimed at broadening our analytic scope by investigating the psychological correlates and consequences of EDO in more detail. More specifically, we had two main goals in mind.…”