Political intolerance: the role of intergroup threat and negative intergroup emotion

Abstract

This study investigated whether the perception of intergroup threat, and intergroup emotion, are related to political intolerance. One hundred and twenty three South African undergraduate students (females = 76%; males = 24%; White = 65%; Coloured = 24%; Indian = 8%; Chinese = 2%; mean age  = 19.8, SD = 3.03 years) were randomly assigned to either a heightened (n = 68) or low intergroup threat condition (n = 55). Data on intergroup threat, intergroup emotion and political intolerance were collected utilising a questionnaire. T-test effect comparisons including multiple regression analyses were computed to determine effects of intergroup threat and negative intergroup emotion on political intolerance. Results revealed negative intergroup emotion and perceived intergroup threat to predict political intolerance. Negative intergroup emotion mediated the relationship between perceived threat and political intolerance. These findings suggest that intergroup threat may lead to the rise of negative intergroup emotion which in turn creates an environment conducive to the development of political intolerance.

Keywords:

• political intolerance
• intergroup intolerance
• intergroup threat
• intergroup emotion
• intergroup attitudes
• negative emotion
• intergroup behaviour
• intergroup relations

Acknowledgments

Johann Louw acknowledges that this work is based on the research supported partly by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (grant no. 85365). The grant holder acknowledges that opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in any publications generated by the NRF supported research are that of the author, and the NRF accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard. We also acknowledge Dr. Liberty Eaton for her useful input.