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On Being a Mindful Authoritarian: Is Need for Cognition Always Associated with Less Punitiveness?

Year: 2008

Type: article

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.

Source: Political Psychology

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9221.2007.00613.x

Authors: Kim‐Pong Tam, Angela Ka‐Yee Leung, Chi‐Yue Chiu

Institutions: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Singapore Management University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Language: English

Topic: Social and Intergroup Psychology

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2123789692

FWCI: 6.969

Cites: 28

Cited by: 29

Related to: 10