THE EFFECTS OF FAITH ON INTRA- AND INTER-GROUP BIASES

Abstract

Previous studies on the relationship between religiosity and prejudice have produced inconsistent results, prompting the need for further exploration of the contexts in which identifying with various forms of faith correlates with forms of attitudinal bias both within and between biocultural groups. In this study, we evaluated two cascade models hypothesizing paths between three forms of faith — mysticism, religiosity, and spirituality — and bias against (i) women and (ii) Arab-immigrants. Additionally, we provide evidence supporting the nomological validity of a novel measure of globalism. Volunteer participants were recruited from the population of undergraduate students enrolled in psychology courses at the University of Arizona, and data were collected through a series of online survey measures. By assessing the structural pathways between these constructs and various group-orientation variables, including collectivism, overt positive ethnocentrism, social dominance orientation, and globalism, this research provides a clearer understanding of how variations among these forms of belief affect group behavior and prejudiced attitudes.