Self-concept clarity buffers the impact of societal threat to safety on right-wing authoritarianism

ABSTRACT

Exposure to societal threat can elicit an increase in right-wing authoritarianism (RWA). In this study, using a quasi-experimental vignette design (Italian community sample, N = 86), we tested the moderating role of self-concept clarity (SCC). A moderated regression showed that manipulated societal threat to safety fostered RWA only among low SCC scorers. It is concluded that SCC is an important resource for individuals facing threat conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• DPTE
• moderation
• right-wing authoritarianism
• self-concept clarity
• societal threat to safety

Notes

^1. The results reported here are from a sample independent from Mirisola et al.’s (2014).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Silvia Russo

Silvia Russo is a postdoctoral researcher of Youth & Society at Örebro University, Sweden. Her research interests lie in political behavior, political psychology, and social psychology. More specifically, she focuses on psychosocial predictors of political attitudes and behaviors. Claudia Manzi is an Associate Professor in social psychology and a member of the Atheneum Centre of Family Research and Studies at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy. Her research focuses on the interplay between cultural, social, and relational patterns and individual identity processes. Michele Roccato is a Full Professor in social psychology at the University of Torino, Italy. At present, his main research interests are right-wing authoritarianism, fear of crime, and locally unwanted land uses mobilizations.

Claudia Manzi

Silvia Russo is a postdoctoral researcher of Youth & Society at Örebro University, Sweden. Her research interests lie in political behavior, political psychology, and social psychology. More specifically, she focuses on psychosocial predictors of political attitudes and behaviors. Claudia Manzi is an Associate Professor in social psychology and a member of the Atheneum Centre of Family Research and Studies at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy. Her research focuses on the interplay between cultural, social, and relational patterns and individual identity processes. Michele Roccato is a Full Professor in social psychology at the University of Torino, Italy. At present, his main research interests are right-wing authoritarianism, fear of crime, and locally unwanted land uses mobilizations.

Michele Roccato

Silvia Russo is a postdoctoral researcher of Youth & Society at Örebro University, Sweden. Her research interests lie in political behavior, political psychology, and social psychology. More specifically, she focuses on psychosocial predictors of political attitudes and behaviors. Claudia Manzi is an Associate Professor in social psychology and a member of the Atheneum Centre of Family Research and Studies at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy. Her research focuses on the interplay between cultural, social, and relational patterns and individual identity processes. Michele Roccato is a Full Professor in social psychology at the University of Torino, Italy. At present, his main research interests are right-wing authoritarianism, fear of crime, and locally unwanted land uses mobilizations.