El efecto del estatus de la fuente de influencia en función de la amenaza de la identidad y de la interdependencia de las posiciones

This experimental study evaluated the influence on the intention to stop smoking with regard to three factors: the status of the source (expert vs. non-expert); the threat that antismoking arguments pose to the identity of the smoker (low vs. high) and the interdependence established between the points of view (low vs. high). The main dependent variables were the level of disagreement with the antismoking arguments and the influence on the intention to stop. The defensive motivation of the smoker was assessed on the basis of their intention to criticize antismoking arguments and thenature of the criticism (in favour or against smoking). The results show that when the threat to identity and interdependence are low, the expert source of influence has a greater effect than the non-expert source, and the defensive motivation of the smoker is lower. When the threat to identityand interdependence are high, the lower defensive motivation and the greater influence exerted by the high status source disappear. These results confirm the hypothesis that the greater influence habitually attributed to high status sources may disappear in contexts in which the identity of the target is deeply involved.Este estudio experimental analiza la influencia sobre la intención de dejar de fumar de los fumadores en función de tres factores: el estatus de la fuente (experto vs. no-experto), la amenaza que introduce su discurso para la identidad del fumador (baja vs. alta), y la interdependenciaque se establece entre los puntos de vista (baja vs. alta). Las principales variables dependientes son el grado de desacuerdo con los argumentos antitabaco y la influencia sobre la intención de dejar de fumar. Tarnbién se ha medido la motivación defensiva del fumador a partir de la intención que tiene de criticar los argumentos antitabaco y de la valencia de su crítica (favorable o desfavorable al consumo de tabaco). Los resultados muestran que cuando la amenaza y la interdependencia son bajas, la fuente experta obtiene una mayor influencia que la fuente no-experta, y la motivación defensiva del fumador es menor ante aquella que ante ésta.Cuando la amenaza o la interdependencia son altas, la menor motivación defensiva y la mayor influencia que obtenia la fuente experta respecto a la fuente no-experta desaparecen. Estos resultados confirman la hipótesis de que la mayor influencia que habitualmente se atribuye a las fuentes dealto estatus puede desaparecer en contextos que presenten una fuerte implicación para la identidad del blanco

Gender-Role's Attitude, Perceived Similarity, and Sexual Prejudice against Gay Men

Two hundred and twenty-six heterosexual participants (115 women and 111 men) were asked to indicate their attitude toward gender-roles, their perceived similarities with gay men, and their attitude toward gay men (i.e., sexual prejudice). As expected, male participants showed more sexual prejudice than female participants, and perceived dissimilarities were related to a greater sexual prejudice. Support for gender-roles was related to sexual prejudice for male participants, but not for female participants. More interestingly, the three-way interaction suggested that perceived similarities moderated the link between gender-roles and sexual prejudice among heterosexual men, but not among heterosexual women. Attitude in favor of traditional gender-roles was related to sexual prejudice for male participants who perceived gay men as different, but not for those who perceived gay men as similar. These findings are discussed in terms of the defensive function of men's attitude toward homosexuality as a result of threat to masculinit

Perceived men’s feminization and attitudes toward homosexuality: Heterosexual men’s reactions to the decline of the anti-femininity norm of masculinity

One of the central dimensions of traditional masculinity is men’s renunciation of the feminine (i.e., the anti-femininity norm), and men’s endorsement of this norm constitutes one of the strongest predictors of negative attitudes toward homosexuality. However, egalitarian societies are undergoing a significant change: Gendered roles, stereotypes, and norms are evolving. Accordingly, many believe that men are becoming more feminine than before, and this change might have consequential effects. Across two studies conducted in Western countries, we investigated heterosexual men’s reaction to the perceived decline of the anti-femininity norm of masculinity on their attitudes toward homosexuality. The results consistently showed that perceived men’s feminization increased negative attitudes toward homosexuality (Study 1, n = 220), specifically among those participants who most strongly endorsed the anti-femininity norm (Study 2, n = 156). Furthermore, this pattern was driven by participants’ discomfort with homosexuality rather than by their motivation to reinstate the challenged gender dichotomy. We discuss the relevance of these findings for both the gender and sexual prejudice literatures

Perceived Similarity With Gay Men Mediates the Effect of Antifemininity on Heterosexual Men’s Antigay Prejudice

This research examined the hypothesis that heterosexual men’s motivation to differentiate themselves from gay men mediates the relationship between the antifemininity norm of masculinity and antigay prejudice. We assessed masculinity through three concepts: status, thoughness, and antifemininity. Participants then reported their perceived similarity with gay men and their antigay prejudice. The results showed that antifemininity was the best predictor of both perceived similarity and antigay prejudice: The more people endorsed the antifemininity norm, the more they perceived themselves as dissimilar from gay men and showed antigay prejudice. More important, perceived similarity mediated the effect of antifemininity on antigay prejudice. These findings provide direct evidence for the link between masculinity and the motivation to differentiate oneself from gay men, and they suggest that antigay prejudice accomplishes the identity function of maintaining unambiguous gender boundaries

Editorial: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, the Goddesses who did Not Want to Solve Conflict

This Editorial introduces the Special Collection “Conflicts in social influence: A Festschrift in honour of Gabriel Mugny”, which celebrates Gabriel Mugny’s pioneer role in developing a social psychological understanding of the structuring role of conflict. The article outlines Gabriel Mugny's contribution to social psychology in general, and to social development and minority influence in particular. It also presents the articles included in the Special Collection

Legitimacy of Authority and Protest Actions in Response to Collective Disadvantages

Abstract A wealth of evidence has demonstrated that individuals’ participation in collective actions largely derives from perceived group disadvantages. In the present research, we hypothesized that engagement in protest activities can be attenuated if the disadvantages originate from legitimate figures of authority. Across three experiments based on vignettes describing a hypothetical work setting (total N  = 670), we found consistent support for this prediction. In Study 1, we showed that intention to participate in a protest movement in reaction to an unfavourable distribution of outcomes was lower when legitimacy of the group’s authority was high (vs. low). In addition, a reduction in anger was found to play a mediating role. Studies 2 and 3 further demonstrated that these effects only occurred when participants were confronted with a relatively low disadvantage (as opposed to a high disadvantage). In an attempt to identify underlying mechanisms, Study 3 emphasized the moral implications that lie behind responses to high (vs. low) disadvantageous decisions and that shape resistance processes. Taken together, these findings call for more consideration for the role of group authorities in the comprehension of collective action tendencies and give insights to better understand how and when authority legitimacy can serve to perpetuate social disparities and hinders the fight against injustices. </p

Egalitarianism and Sexual Prejudice: the Role of Ingroup Distinctiveness Motives

The present research examined the hypothesis that heterosexual men's motivation to differentiate their ingroup from gay men moderates the link between egalitarianism and sexual prejudice. In two experiments conducted in Switzerland (N = 74) and Ecuador (N = 104), we assessed heterosexual men's endorsement of egalitarian values and experimentally manipulated scientific evidence supporting or refuting the existence of biological differences between heterosexual and gay men (the biological theory). The main dependent variable was attitude towards homosexuality. As predicted, the interaction between egalitarianism and the biological theory was significant in both experiments, t(67) = 3.18, p = .002, ηp 2 = .13, and t(100) = 2.26, p = .026, ηp 2 = .04, respectively. Egalitarianism increased positive attitudes towards homosexuality only when science supported the existence of biological differences between heterosexual and gay men. We discuss the relevance of this finding to intergroup relation

The interplay between social dominance orientation and intergroup contact in explaining support for multiculturalism

In two studies, we tested whether social dominance orientation (SDO) and intergroup contact interacted in shaping support for multiculturalism. Study 1 was correlational, while in Study 2 we measured SDO and experimentally manipulated intergroup contact (imagined contact paradigm). We found that SDO and intergroup contact interacted on support for multiculturalism: Intergroup contact was associated with more support for multiculturalism only for high‐SDO individuals, and SDO was negatively associated to support for multiculturalism more strongly for individuals with low or no contact. Finally, we discussed the role of the intergroup setting in which studies are conducted

Intergroup contact moderates the influence of social norms on prejudice

While previous research has examined social norms and intergroup contact as predictors of prejudice, there is limited research on their interplay in shaping intergroup attitudes. The results of five studies using correlational and experimental methods in different intergroup contexts consistently showed that the influence of intolerant (vs. tolerant) social norms on prejudice is reduced for people who have contacts with outgroup members. Studies 4–5 further showed that threat perceptions mediate the interaction effects between norms and contact on prejudice. Overall, the research program suggests that intergroup contact is a potent tool for reducing conformity to intolerant and antiegalitarian norms