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Passion and moral disengagement: Different pathways to political activism
Author(s) -
Bélanger Jocelyn J.,
Schumpe Birga M.,
Nociti Noëmie,
Moyano Manuel,
Dandeneau Stéphane,
Chamberland PierEric,
Vallerand Robert J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/jopy.12470
Subject(s) - passion , psychology , politics , mindset , social psychology , moral disengagement , disengagement theory , radicalization , political science , law , epistemology , gerontology , medicine , philosophy
Objective Four studies examined the relationship between motivational imbalance―the degree to which a goal dominates other goals―and political activism. Method Based on the dualistic model of passion (Vallerand, 2015) and recent theorizing on violent extremism (Kruglanski, Jasko, Chernikova, Dugas, & Webber, 2017), we predicted that obsessive passion (OP), which facilitates alternative goal suppression, would increase support for violent political behaviors. In contrast, we predicted that harmonious passion (HP), which facilitates the integration of multiple goal pursuits, would increase support for peaceful political behaviors. Results Study 1a demonstrated that OP for environmentalism was positively associated with moral disengagement, which in turn predicted violent behaviors. HP was positively associated with peaceful behaviors. Political activism among Democrats yielded similar findings in Study 1b. Study 2 replicated Studies 1a–1b using an implicit measure of moral disengagement. Study 3 replicated Studies 1–2 by demonstrating that experimentally inducing a harmonious (vs. obsessive) passion mindset indirectly reduced violent behaviors through the attenuation of moral disengagement while directly promoting peaceful behaviors. Study 4 conceptually replicated Studies 1–3 by experimentally manipulating moral disengagement. Conclusions These results offer insights into the workings of radicalization and suggest theory‐driven methods of reducing political violence.