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The relationships between internal and external threat and right-wing attitudes: A three-wave longitudinal study

Onraet, Emma, Dhont, Kristof, Van Hiel, Alain (2014) The relationships between internal and external threat and right-wing attitudes: A three-wave longitudinal study. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40 (6). pp. 715-725. ISSN 0146-1672. E-ISSN 1552-7433. (doi:10.1177/0146167214524256) (KAR id:42844)

Abstract

The interplay between threat and right-wing attitudes has received much research attention, but its longitudinal relationship has hardly been investigated. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal relationships between internal and external threat and right-wing attitudes using a cross-lagged design at three different time points in a large nationally representative sample (N = 800). We found evidence for bidirectional relationships. Higher levels of external threat were related to higher levels of Right-Wing Authoritarianism and to both the egalitarianism and dominance dimensions of Social Dominance Orientation at a later point in time. Conversely, higher levels of RWA were also related to increased perception of external threat later in time. Internal threat did not yield significant direct or indirect longitudinal relationships with right-wing attitudes. Theoretical and practical implications of these longitudinal effects are discussed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0146167214524256
Uncontrolled keywords: internal threat ; external threat ; authoritarianism ; social dominance orientation ; longitudal relationships ; cross-lagged model
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Kristof Dhont
Date Deposited: 05 Sep 2014 16:15 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 02:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/42844 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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