A mediational analysis of the role of right-wing authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism in the religiosity-prejudice link

Megan K. Johnson, Wade C. Rowatt, Lucy M. Barnard-Brak, Julie A. Patock-Peckham, Jordan P. LaBouff, Robert D. Carlisle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most religions teach tolerance; however, dimensions of religiousness and prejudice are often positively related. This study examined whether rigid ideological beliefs associated with religion, such as right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and religious fundamentalism (RF), mediate relationships between general religiosity and certain prejudices. Participants completed self-report measures of RWA, RF, homosexual prejudice, and racial prejudice. State-of-the-art mediation path analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test the mediational effects of RWA and RF on the religiosity-prejudice relationship. Components of RWA and RF fully mediated the relationship between religiosity and prejudice. RF was the strongest mediator of value-violating prejudice, and RWA aggression solely mediated the relationship between religiosity and subtle racism. Cognitively rigid ideologies may be responsible for the appearance of a religiosity-prejudice relationship.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)851-856
Number of pages6
JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
Volume50
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Prejudice/stereotyping
  • Religiosity
  • Religious fundamentalism
  • Right-wing authoritarianism
  • Structural equation modeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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