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Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Stanley, ML; Sinclair, AH; Seli, P
Published in: Journal of personality
December 2020

Intellectual humility (IH) refers to the recognition that personal beliefs might be wrong. We investigate possible interpersonal implications of IH for how people perceive the intellectual capabilities and moral character of their sociopolitical opponents and for their willingness to associate with those opponents.In four initial studies (N = 1,926, Mage  = 38, 880 females, 1,035 males), we measured IH, intellectual and moral derogation of opponents, and willingness to befriend opponents. In two additional studies (N = 568, Mage  = 40, 252 females, 314 males), we presented participants with a specific opponent on certain sociopolitical issues and several social media posts from that opponent in which he expressed his views on the issue. We then measured IH, intellectual, and moral derogation of the opponent, participants' willingness to befriend the opponent, participants' willingness to "friend" the opponent on social media, and participants' willingness to "follow" the opponent on social media.Low-IH relative to high-IH participants were more likely to derogate the intellectual capabilities and moral character of their opponents, less willing to befriend their opponents, and less willing to "friend" and "follow" an opponent on social media.IH may have important interpersonal implications for person perception, and for understanding social extremism and polarization.

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Published In

Journal of personality

DOI

EISSN

1467-6494

ISSN

0022-3506

Publication Date

December 2020

Volume

88

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1196 / 1216

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Social Media
  • Perception
  • Morals
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Adult
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Stanley, M. L., Sinclair, A. H., & Seli, P. (2020). Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents. Journal of Personality, 88(6), 1196–1216. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12566
Stanley, Matthew L., Alyssa H. Sinclair, and Paul Seli. “Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents.Journal of Personality 88, no. 6 (December 2020): 1196–1216. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12566.
Stanley ML, Sinclair AH, Seli P. Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents. Journal of personality. 2020 Dec;88(6):1196–216.
Stanley, Matthew L., et al. “Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents.Journal of Personality, vol. 88, no. 6, Dec. 2020, pp. 1196–216. Epmc, doi:10.1111/jopy.12566.
Stanley ML, Sinclair AH, Seli P. Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents. Journal of personality. 2020 Dec;88(6):1196–1216.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of personality

DOI

EISSN

1467-6494

ISSN

0022-3506

Publication Date

December 2020

Volume

88

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1196 / 1216

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Social Media
  • Perception
  • Morals
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Adult
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology