A dual-process cognitive-motivational theory of ideology and prejudice

Abstract

Publisher Summary It is noted that prejudice is primarily studied as a group or socially shared phenomenon. However, prejudice can also be viewed as an individual phenomenon in the sense that individuals often seem to differ in their propensity to adopt prejudiced and ethnocentric attitudes. This chapter focuses on the explanation of negative intergroup attitudes, prejudice, discrimination, and oppression by two basic cognitive-motivational dynamics. These dynamics can also have relevance for explaining those social and intergroup attitudes and behaviors associated with resistance to oppression, discrimination, and injustice. The chapter proposes a theoretical model that essentially suggests that prejudiced intergroup attitudes result from two motivational goals in individuals—namely, the competitively driven dominance-power-superiority motivation and threat-driven social control and group defense motivation. These motivational goals are aroused by two main kinds of situational characteristics of intergroup relationships: social and intergroup threat and inequalities in or competition over power and dominance. The model is fundamentally considered motivational as it involves prejudiced social and intergroup attitudes emerging from powerful and basic human motivational goals.