Intellectual humility in the sociopolitical domain

Department(s)

Social Science

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-16-2020

Keywords

accuracy motivation, affective polarization, defense motivation, Intellectual humility, political beliefs, political participation

Abstract

A growing body of research has demonstrated the relevance of intellectual humility to a variety of interpersonal and social attitudes and behaviors. There is a need for further replication and expansion of findings about the role of intellectual humility in the sociopolitical domain. We examined sociopolitical intellectual humility (SIH), i.e., a non-threatening awareness of the fallibility of one’s views about sociopolitical topics in relation to attitudes toward specific political groups and issues in a U.S. sample of adults (N = 587). We found SIH was distinct from political apathy and indifference and unrelated to belief in under-supported political claims. SIH was associated with less affective polarization with regard to political and religious groups. In addition, SIH was related to more responsiveness to information on the topic of immigration among individuals primed to think from a defense rather than accuracy motivated perspective. Finally, for individuals primed to think about the fallibility of their knowledge specific to immigration, having higher trait levels of SIH was associated with more responsiveness to information on the topic of immigration.

Publication Title

Self and Identity

ISSN

15298868

E-ISSN

15298876

Volume

19

Issue

8

First Page

989

Last Page

1016

DOI

10.1080/15298868.2020.1714711

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