Condoning discrimination: The effects of dominance and authoritarianism are moderated by different ways of reasoning about antigay discriminatory acts. (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Poteat, V. Paul; Horn, Stacey S.; Armstrong, Patrick I.
• Is Part Of: Group processes and intergroup relations. Volume 20:Number 6(2017:Nov.)
• Page Start: 831
• Page End: 849
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: homophobia -- moral reasoning -- prejudice -- right-wing authoritarianism -- social cognitive domain theory -- social dominance orientation; Intergroup relations -- Periodicals; Social groups -- Periodicals; 302.305
• DOI: 10.1177/1368430216638528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4302

Abstract

Many studies have focused on mediated paths by which social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) predict prejudice; fewer have identified factors that moderate their effects. We applied social cognitive domain theory to test whether different ways of reasoning about antigay discriminatory acts moderated the association between SDO, RWA, and condoning antigay discrimination. Moral reasoning (e.g., emphasizing fairness, equality) and personal reasoning (e.g., emphasizing individual interests, qualifications) attenuated the association between SDO, RWA, and condoning discriminatory resource denial in general and religious-specific contexts. Conventional reasoning (e.g., emphasizing group norms, rules) magnified the association between SDO, RWA, and condoning resource denial, but only in a religious-specific context. Findings highlight the need to examine moderators of SDO and RWA effects in effort to disrupt discrimination by those most likely to engage in it.