Humility attenuates negative attitudes and behaviors toward religious out-group members

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-3-2016

Publication Source

Journal of Positive Psychology

Volume Number

11

Issue Number

2

First Page

199

Last Page

208

ISSN

1743-9760

Abstract

Humility is marked by the regulation of selfish impulses for the sake of others, including holding a modest view of one's beliefs (and their relative strengths and weaknesses). In three studies, we evaluated the extent to which humility attenuates negative attitudes, behavioral intentions, and behaviors toward religious out-group members. In Study 1 (N=159), humility regarding religious beliefs was associated with positive attitudes toward religiously different individuals. In Study 2 (N=149), relational and intellectual humility were associated with less aggressive behavioral intentions in a hypothetical situation in which their cherished beliefs were criticized. In Study 3 (N=62), participants implicitly primed with humility administered significantly less hot sauce (a behavioral measure of aggression) to a religious out-group member who criticized their cherished views relative to participants in the neutral prime condition. We highlight the importance of humility in promoting positive attitudes and behaviors toward religious out-group members.

Keywords

Beliefs, Defensiveness, Humility, Mortality Salience, Out-groups, Psychology, Religious, Terror Management, Tolerance, Worldview Defense

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