Jocelyn J Bélanger1, Birga M Schumpe1, Noëmie Nociti2, Manuel Moyano3, Stéphane Dandeneau2, Pier-Eric Chamberland4, Robert J Vallerand2. 1. Department of Psychology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 2. Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain. 4. Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Four studies examined the relationship between motivational imbalance-the degree to which a goal dominates other goals-and political activism. METHOD: Based on the dualistic model of passion (Vallerand, 2015) and recent theorizing on violent extremism (Kruglanski, Jasko, Chernikova, Dugas, & Webber, 2017), we predicted that obsessive passion (OP), which facilitates alternative goal suppression, would increase support for violent political behaviors. In contrast, we predicted that harmonious passion (HP), which facilitates the integration of multiple goal pursuits, would increase support for peaceful political behaviors. RESULTS: Study 1a demonstrated that OP for environmentalism was positively associated with moral disengagement, which in turn predicted violent behaviors. HP was positively associated with peaceful behaviors. Political activism among Democrats yielded similar findings in Study 1b. Study 2 replicated Studies 1a-1b using an implicit measure of moral disengagement. Study 3 replicated Studies 1-2 by demonstrating that experimentally inducing a harmonious (vs. obsessive) passion mindset indirectly reduced violent behaviors through the attenuation of moral disengagement while directly promoting peaceful behaviors. Study 4 conceptually replicated Studies 1-3 by experimentally manipulating moral disengagement. CONCLUSIONS: These results offer insights into the workings of radicalization and suggest theory-driven methods of reducing political violence.
OBJECTIVE: Four studies examined the relationship between motivational imbalance-the degree to which a goal dominates other goals-and political activism. METHOD: Based on the dualistic model of passion (Vallerand, 2015) and recent theorizing on violent extremism (Kruglanski, Jasko, Chernikova, Dugas, & Webber, 2017), we predicted that obsessive passion (OP), which facilitates alternative goal suppression, would increase support for violent political behaviors. In contrast, we predicted that harmonious passion (HP), which facilitates the integration of multiple goal pursuits, would increase support for peaceful political behaviors. RESULTS: Study 1a demonstrated that OP for environmentalism was positively associated with moral disengagement, which in turn predicted violent behaviors. HP was positively associated with peaceful behaviors. Political activism among Democrats yielded similar findings in Study 1b. Study 2 replicated Studies 1a-1b using an implicit measure of moral disengagement. Study 3 replicated Studies 1-2 by demonstrating that experimentally inducing a harmonious (vs. obsessive) passion mindset indirectly reduced violent behaviors through the attenuation of moral disengagement while directly promoting peaceful behaviors. Study 4 conceptually replicated Studies 1-3 by experimentally manipulating moral disengagement. CONCLUSIONS: These results offer insights into the workings of radicalization and suggest theory-driven methods of reducing political violence.
Authors: Andrea Chirico; Fabio Lucidi; Gennaro Pica; Daniela Di Santo; Federica Galli; Fabio Alivernini; Luca Mallia; Arnaldo Zelli; Arie W Kruglanski; Antonio Pierro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-19 Impact factor: 3.390