Abstract
AbstractThe present research utilizes an evolutionary framework to investigate the process underlying the recent rise of several populist, “strongmen” leaders. Specifically, we propose that when people experience contingent (i.e., impending) ecological threats, their need for cognitive closure is activated, making them desire strong rules (i.e., a tight society) and to be guided by a strong leader. Further, we hypothesize that desire for cultural tightness, once activated by need for cognitive closure, augments peoples’ need for strong leaders. In two studies, we tested our hypotheses with respect to two of the most salient ecological threats currently affecting Europeans, namely COVID-19 (Study 1) and the war in Ukraine (Study 2). Results supported all our hypotheses, thereby shedding light on psycho-motivational underpinnings (i.e., need for cognitive closure and desire cultural for tightness) of the rise of populist leaders. Results thus corroborate the idea that populist leaders can use ecological threats-related uncertainty to maintain or gain power, and that ecological threats could bring to an alignment with right-wing ideas of people’s political attitudes.
Funder
Sapienza Ateneo Scientific Research
Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference56 articles.
1. Aktas, M., Gelfand, M. J., & Hanges, P. J. (2016). Cultural tightness–looseness and perceptions of effective leadership. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 47(2), 294–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022115606802
2. Albarello, F., Contu, F., Baldner, C., Vecchione, R., Ellenberg, M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Pierro, A. (2023a). At the roots of Allport’s “prejudice-prone personality”: The impact of NFC on prejudice towards different outgroups and the mediating role of binding moral foundations. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101885
3. Albarello, F., Mula, S., Contu, F., Baldner, C., Kruglanski, A. W., & Pierro, A. (2023b). Addressing the effect of concern with COVID-19 threat on prejudice towards immigrants: The sequential mediating role of NFC and DCT. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 101755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101755
4. Aquino, N. P. (2017). Broad support for Duterte’s drug war in Philippines, Pew finds. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-21/duterte-approvalratings-stands-at-86-pew-research-center-poll
5. Baldner, C., Di Santo, D., Viola, M., & Pierro, A. (2022). Perceived COVID-19 threat and reactions to noncompliant health-protective behaviors: The mediating role of desired cultural tightness and the moderating role of age. International Journal of Environmental Reearch and Public Health, 19, 2364. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042364
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献