Behavioral Sciences

Research

10 pages, 402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Need for Cognitive Closure on Attitudes toward Women as Managers and the Sequential Mediating Role of Belief in a Just World and Gender Essentialism

by Conrad Baldner and Antonio Pierro

Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030196 - 29 Feb 2024

Viewed by 822

Abstract

This research investigated the relation between the need for cognitive closure (i.e., a desire for epistemic certainty) and attitudes toward women as managers among men and women. In a cross-sectional study (total N = 241) collected in Italy, we found that need for [...] Read more.

This research investigated the relation between the need for cognitive closure (i.e., a desire for epistemic certainty) and attitudes toward women as managers among men and women. In a cross-sectional study (total N = 241) collected in Italy, we found that need for cognitive closure, controlling for participants’ gender, was related to having more prejudice toward women leaders. Furthermore, the results revealed that the positive relation between the need for cognitive closure and negative attitudes toward women as managers was sequentially mediated by belief in a just world (i.e., the belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get and other people do not) and gender essentialism (i.e., the belief that women and men are distinctly, immutably, and naturally different, and thus have complementary skills to bring to the workplace). We suggest that men and women who are characterized by a need for cognitive closure are more sensitive to stereotypes of women as being incompatible with leadership roles. Either priming a low need for cognitive closure or providing contrary stereotypes could obviate the effect on beliefs in a just world and in gender essentialism that impedes progress towards greater gender equality in the workplace. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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11 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Motivation to Avoid Uncertainty, Implicit Person Theories about the Malleability of Human Attributes and Attitudes toward Women as Leaders vs. Followers: A Mediational Analysis

by Federico Contu, Flavia Albarello and Antonio Pierro

Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14010064 - 17 Jan 2024

Viewed by 849

Abstract

This research investigated the relation between motivation to avoid uncertainty, as reflected in the need for cognitive closure, implicit theories about the malleability of human attributes, and attitudes toward women as leaders vs. followers. In a cross-sectional study (N = 470) conducted in [...] Read more.

This research investigated the relation between motivation to avoid uncertainty, as reflected in the need for cognitive closure, implicit theories about the malleability of human attributes, and attitudes toward women as leaders vs. followers. In a cross-sectional study (N = 470) conducted in Italy, we hypothesized and found that the need for cognitive closure directly enhanced the belief that women are compatible with followership roles rather than leadership roles. Furthermore, the results from a mediational analysis revealed that the relation between the need for cognitive closure and the belief that women are compatible with followership roles rather than leadership was mediated by implicit person theories (i.e., the conviction that people features are malleable vs. unchangeable). Notably, we obtained these results while controlling for participants’ gender, educational level, and age. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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12 pages, 782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Imagine Being Humble: Integrating Imagined Intergroup Contact and Cultural Humility to Foster Inclusive Intergroup Relations

by Emilio Paolo Visintin, Marika Rullo and Calogero Lo Destro

Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14010051 - 14 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1078

Abstract

To reduce prejudice and to promote intergroup harmony and equality, the imagined intergroup contact technique, based on the mental simulation of an encounter with an outgroup member, has been proposed. Though a substantial body of research has provided support for the efficacy of [...] Read more.

To reduce prejudice and to promote intergroup harmony and equality, the imagined intergroup contact technique, based on the mental simulation of an encounter with an outgroup member, has been proposed. Though a substantial body of research has provided support for the efficacy of imagined intergroup contact in prejudice reduction, an alternative strand of research has raised questions about its effectiveness. In this experiment, we combined imagined intergroup contact with cultural humility, that is, an other-oriented, humble approach toward people with different cultural backgrounds, recognizing status and power imbalances and privileges. Specifically, we tested whether instructions aimed at eliciting cultural humility during imagined contact boosted its effectiveness in reducing prejudice and promoting future contact intentions, compared to a standard imagined contact condition and to a control imagination task. Intergroup anxiety was tested as a mediator of the effects of culturally humble imagined contact on reduced prejudice and on future contact intentions. We found that culturally humble imagined contact, compared to the two other conditions, reduced intergroup anxiety and yielded indirect effects on reduced prejudice and increased future contact intentions. The findings will be discussed by focusing on the integration of cultural humility in prejudice reduction techniques based on intergroup contact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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11 pages, 772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intergroup Contact Is Associated with Less Negative Attitude toward Women Managers: The Bolstering Effect of Social Dominance Orientation

by Federico Contu, Alessio Tesi and Antonio Aiello

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13120973 - 26 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the intergroup contact hypothesis in the workplace by enrolling 150 Italian employees. Within the framework of social dominance theory, the purpose of this study was to test the assumption that individuals with higher levels of social dominance orientation are [...] Read more.

This cross-sectional study examined the intergroup contact hypothesis in the workplace by enrolling 150 Italian employees. Within the framework of social dominance theory, the purpose of this study was to test the assumption that individuals with higher levels of social dominance orientation are more likely to exhibit prejudice against women in managerial positions and benefit more from intergroup contact with a female supervisor. In particular, we found that individuals with higher levels of social dominance orientation exhibited more negative attitudes towards women in manager positions, but this effect only appeared when their superiors were women, as opposed to men. In addition, participants with higher social dominance orientation experienced more positive outcomes from intergroup contact, resulting in less negative attitudes toward women managers, than those with lower social dominance orientation. Overall, these findings yield insights into how intergroup contact affects individuals with prejudice tendencies, indicating that contact with the targeted group (i.e., women in managerial positions) is negatively associated with negative attitudes towards the group, even when the prejudice is driven by social dominance orientation. These results could shed light on new routes to design practical intervention aimed at solving prejudice towards women in leadership roles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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24 pages, 1866 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intercultural Friendships with International Students in China: Examining the Role of Intergroup Contact, Intercultural Communication Competence, Host Country Nationals’ Attitudes, and Perceived Intergroup Threats

by Lingjie Tang and Chang’an Zhang

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100855 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2110

Abstract

International students studying and living in a foreign context often complain about difficulties establishing friendships with host nationals. This study investigates host country nationals’ (HCNs) willingness to develop intercultural friendships with international students who are sojourning in China by exploring the effects of [...] Read more.

International students studying and living in a foreign context often complain about difficulties establishing friendships with host nationals. This study investigates host country nationals’ (HCNs) willingness to develop intercultural friendships with international students who are sojourning in China by exploring the effects of face-to-face and online intergroup contact, HCNs’ attitudes, intercultural communication competence (ICC), and perceived intergroup threats. Survey data from 469 HCNs indicate that (a) face-to-face and online contact are indirectly and positively related to their willingness to form intercultural friendships, (b) face-to-face contact can moderate the relationships of online contact with HCNs’ intergroup attitudes and perceived intergroup threats, and (c) both ICC and intergroup attitudes can positively predict friendship formation whereas perceived intergroup threats act as a negative predictor. The implications of our findings for future research and practice are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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13 pages, 671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pathway between Social Dominance Orientation and Drop out from Hierarchy-Attenuating Contexts: The Role of Moral Foundations and Person-Environment Misfit

by Alessio Tesi, Daniela Di Santo and Antonio Aiello

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090712 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1190

Abstract

The present study examines the role of individuals’ preference for unequal intergroup relations in exacerbating a process of differential attrition from organizations that value intergroup equality (i.e., hierarchy-attenuating contexts). We proposed that people functioning within a well-recognized hierarchy-attenuating context (i.e., students of social [...] Read more.

The present study examines the role of individuals’ preference for unequal intergroup relations in exacerbating a process of differential attrition from organizations that value intergroup equality (i.e., hierarchy-attenuating contexts). We proposed that people functioning within a well-recognized hierarchy-attenuating context (i.e., students of social work) who were higher on social dominance orientation (SDO) would be more likely to leave their institution through two pathways; first, people higher on SDO would have fewer moral concerns of social fairness and human harm-avoidance (i.e., individualizing); in turn, a lack of individualizing morality would stimulate a perceived person-environment misfit, ultimately increasing their intention to leave. We conducted a single cross-sectional design study involving a convenience sample of 245 undergraduate social work students. Overall, the results of the serial mediation model suggest that people higher on SDO intend to leave their organization that supports inclusive equality via reduced individualizing morality and high perceived P-E misfit. These findings contribute to understanding the role of socio-political orientations and moral beliefs in hindering proper adaptation to contexts that value egalitarian social norms, with relevant implications for individuals and groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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17 pages, 773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Relationship between Individualism and Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Moderating Role of Social Cohesion

by Kuk-Kyoung Moon, Seo-Hee Lee and Seo-Yeon Jeong

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13080661 - 08 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1495

Abstract

Combining Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, value–belief–norm theory, and social exchange theory, this study explores the impact of individualism and social cohesion on pro-environmental behavior (PEB) as well as the moderating role of social cohesion in the individualism–PEB link in the context of Korean society. [...] Read more.

Combining Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, value–belief–norm theory, and social exchange theory, this study explores the impact of individualism and social cohesion on pro-environmental behavior (PEB) as well as the moderating role of social cohesion in the individualism–PEB link in the context of Korean society. Using the 2021 Korean General Social Survey and multiple linear regression analyses, we found that individualism is negatively related to PEB, whereas social cohesion is positively related to PEB. Further analysis showed that social cohesion attenuates the negative relationship between individualism and PEB. Our findings suggest that although individuals with high levels of individualism are less likely to perform PEB than those with a high level of collectivism, social cohesion is a valuable community resource that encourages them to engage in eco-friendly activities even when they seek to achieve person-oriented goals and pursue their own interests. The implications and contributions of these findings regarding environmental psychology are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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26 pages, 1168 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How China’s Great Bay Area Policies Affect the National Identity of Hong Kong Youth—A Study of a Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the Difference-in-Differences Model

by Chengzhe Fu, Liao Liao, Tingyang Mo and Xiaoqing Chen

Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13080644 - 01 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1137

Abstract

China’s Bay Area policies are important for integrating Hong Kong (HK) and Macao youth into China’s overall development. However, their effect on national identity is still mostly theoretical, lacking objective and scientific empirical evaluations. From a cultural adaptation perspective, interactions between social groups [...] Read more.

China’s Bay Area policies are important for integrating Hong Kong (HK) and Macao youth into China’s overall development. However, their effect on national identity is still mostly theoretical, lacking objective and scientific empirical evaluations. From a cultural adaptation perspective, interactions between social groups with different cultural backgrounds can promote cultural and political identity transformation. Therefore, guided by China’s Bay Area policies, which encourage various cross-border exchanges via economic cooperation, HK youth can keep in touch with such Mainland Chinese cultural values as “responsible government”, facilitating “political socialization”, and political–cultural adaptation, helping to promote their psychological inclusion into society, contributing to a positive attitude towards the mainland government, and achieving the policy effect of building national identity. A quasi-natural experiment based on the regional differences in the first stages of China’s Bay Area policies can help to evaluate their effects on HK youth’s national identity. This study defines the initial stage of the Bay Area policy implementation as from 2016, when the 13th Five-Year Plan advocated building the “Great Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao”, to 2019, when the Outline was published. The policies issued at this stage were the so-called “early policies”. Due to data limitations, it is difficult to obtain post-2019 survey data; therefore, the study mainly focuses on the policy effects at the beginning of the Bay Area’s construction. Four groups of cross-sectional data from the World Value Survey 6 (WVS6) (2010–2014) and World Value Survey 7 (WVS7) (2017–2020), with HK and the mainland (the non-Guangdong region) included, are used to examine the policy effect under the Difference-in-Differences (DID) Model. The research shows that the policies significantly enhanced HK youth’s national identity, and their trust in the mainland government played an intermediary role in the policy effect mechanism. However, the effect was uneven, benefiting the national identities of HK youth working in the for-profit private sector more than their unemployed or public sector peers. Therefore, this research proposes several policy implications to facilitate policy decision making related to youth in China’s Bay Area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergroup Relations and Social Cognition: Promoting Social Harmony)

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