Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

1-2008

Abstract

Previous research shows that the motivation to be mindful is associated with less intolerance toward deviant and stigmatized groups. The present research examines authoritarianism as a possible moderator of this seemingly robust finding. We obtained consistent evidence from two studies that authoritarianism (right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation) moderates the relationship between need for cognition and punitiveness. Among low authoritarians, need for cognition was negatively associated with punitiveness and dispositional attribution of crimes and positively associated with support for rehabilitation of criminals. However, among high authoritarians, the pattern reversed. These results are discussed in the context of some recent advances in the understanding of motivated social cognition.

Keywords

Motivated social cognition, Need for cognition, Punitiveness, Right-wing authoritarianism, Social dominance

Discipline

Cognition and Perception | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

Political Psychology

Volume

29

Issue

1

First Page

77

Last Page

91

ISSN

0162-895X

Identifier

10.1111/j.1467-9221.2007.00613.x

Publisher

Wiley

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9221.2007.00613.x

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