The interpersonal roots of politics: Social value orientation, socio-political attitudes and prejudice

Abstract

The relationships between social value orientation, socio-political attitudes and prejudice was investigated in three studies (total N=1069). Participants filled in questionnaires containing measures of social value orientation, left–right political orientation, social worldviews (i.e. dangerous world and competitive jungle), right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), social dominance orientation (SDO) and prejudice towards immigrants. Study 1 showed that a proself orientation was associated to right-wing political orientation through the mediation of RWA and SDO. Study 2 revealed that social worldviews mediated the relationships of a proself orientation with RWA and SDO. Finally, Study 3 indicated that a proself orientation was related to prejudice through the intervention of social worldviews, RWA and SDO. Overall, these findings provided robust evidence about the elevant role of interpersonal orientation underpinning socio-political attitudes and prejudice.