The existential function of right‐wing authoritarianism

Abstract

ObjectiveFour studies tested the existential and existential buffering functions of right‐wing authoritarianism (RWA). We tested whether the facets of meaning mediated these functions.MethodAll studies measured RWA and meaning in life (MIL). Study 1, N = 2,319, also measured covariates, including Protestant Work Ethic and religiosity. Study 2, N = 505, examined RWA and meaning facets (purpose, coherence, and significance), and measured religiosity. Study 3, N = 971, measured psychological distress to test the existential buffering function of RWA. Study 4, N = 833, tested this hypothesis using meaning facets and tested for moderated mediation.ResultsIn all studies, RWA and MIL were positively correlated. In Study 1, Protestant Work Ethic and religiosity weakened this association. In Study 2, significance mediated the association between RWA and global MIL. Religiosity wiped out the relationship between RWA and meaning variables, except significance. Study 3 supported the existential buffering hypothesis: distress and global MIL were less strongly related among those high on RWA. Study 4 replicated this finding for MIL facets. Significance mediated the existential buffering function of RWA.ConclusionsFindings extend scientific knowledge by demonstrating that RWA contributes to MIL, particularly existential mattering, and especially for those experiencing distress. We discuss implications for our understanding of RWA and MIL.

Protective Gun Ownership as a Coping Mechanism

“…Research showed that ideologies such as right-wing authoritarianism (an ideology that is associated with attitudes about protective gun ownership, especially among men; Cizmar, Layman, McTague, Pearson-Merkowitz, & Spivey, 2014; M. K. Lizotte, 2019) can help people to maintain the belief that their lives are significant, and therefore meaningful, in the face of psychological threat (Womick, Ward, Heintzelman, Woody, & King, 2019). Protective gun owners, especially those who have taken up the mantle of “citizen-protector” or “sheepdog,” may be likewise using the protective power of their weapons as a way to assert the significance of their lives.…”

Lives of significance (and purpose and coherence): subclinical narcissism, meaning in life, and subjective well-being

“…Additionally, past theory and research suggests that meaning in life may serve as a kind of hub that influences the relevance of other characteristics to general well-being (McKnight and Kashdan, 2009). For example, the relationships of religiosity (Steger and Frazier, 2005) and right-wing authoritarianism (Womick et al, 2019b) with life satisfaction are mediated by meaning in life. Generally, meaning in life may be the mechanism through which individual differences contribute to well-being.…”

“…We tested this possibility in the current research. However, recent research using validated measures of the facets of meaning has shown that dispositional variables (e.g., religiosity) contribute to global meaning in life through the existential significance facet, rather than the purpose or coherence facet (Womick et al, 2019b). Based on these results, and the strong conceptual overlap between narcissism and existential significance, we expected that the significance facet, rather than purpose or coherence, would be the most relevant to the link between narcissism and global meaning in life.…”

Exposure to authoritarian values leads to lower positive affect, higher negative affect, and higher meaning in life

“…Right-wing authoritarianism is correlated positively with meaning in life [ 37 , 38 ]. A series of studies showed that this correlation is not fully explained by personality traits, cognitive ability, information processing styles, or demographic, ideological, political, religious, or well-being variables [ 39 ].…”

“…Social dominance orientation reflects preference for group-based hierarchies and endorsing the use of force to maintain them [ 41 ]. Right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation each result from unique developmental pathways and predict unique outcomes [ 5 , 39 ]. Most importantly for our purposes, social dominance orientation is unrelated to meaning in life [ 39 ], and thus is not a focus of the current research.…”