Humility attenuates negative attitudes and behaviors toward religious out-group members |
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| Authors: | Daryl R. Van Tongeren Joshua Stafford Joshua N. Hook Jeffrey D. Green Don E. Davis Kathryn A. Johnson |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology, Schaap Science Center, Hope College, 35 E. 12th Street, Holland, MI 49423-3605, USA;2. Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA;3. Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #311270, Denton, TX 76203, USA;4. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 842018, 806 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220, USA;5. Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA;6. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | humility religious defensiveness tolerance out-groups beliefs |
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