Exploring the influence of social threat and value reinforcement on emotional reactions to value transgressions
Loading...
Date
2013-03-07
Authors
Fazel, Hesham
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Religiosity and morality constitute the fundamental components of any culture and set up rules and regulate interpersonal behavior. In the context of religion, to understanding value transgressions, their emotional consequences and the moderating role of social threats (in-group and out-group interactions), the psychological underpinnings of value-reinforcement, and complementing role of self-affirmation at a group level represent the focal points of this dissertation. The findings of study 1 show that value transgression has a direct effect on the level of negative emotion experienced by the transgressor. The social threat that is manipulated by the presence of an out-group member during the time of transgression moderates the relationship between value transgression and level of negative emotion. Furthermore, value reinforcement (e.g, endorsing group value) can weaken the effect of threats and mitigate negative emotions. Study 1 findings show that value reinforcement's absence qualified previous proposition of value transgression and social presence interaction. In study 2, I carry on the investigation by showing that granting opportunities to affirm important group values mitigates their emotional tension. Study 2 results show that group-affirmation may work as a complementary factor that further explains the relationship between value reinforcement and emotional reaction in the event of transgressing group values.
Description
Keywords
Value, Transgression, Threat, Reinforcement, Religion