The Role of Social Cognition in the Religious Fundamentalism-Prejudice Relationship

2010/12/01 by Eric Hill, Eric D. Hill, Adam B. Cohen +2 · 72 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Cognition #Consistency (knowledge bases) #Fundamentalism #Gender studies #Law #Need for cognition #Political science #Preference #Prejudice (legal term) #Psychology #Racism #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Social psychology #Sociology

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1468-5906.2010.01542.x

published in Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 49(4), 724-739 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2010/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21

Abstract

The study examines the indirect effects of religious fundamentalism on prejudice through cognitive style and fear of invalidity. Undergraduates (n= 199) completed measures of religious fundamentalism, homophobia, modern racism, hostile and benevolent sexism, need for cognition, need for structure, preference for consistency, and fear of invalidity. Need for cognition partially mediated the relationship between religious fundamentalism and both homophobia and benevolent sexism. Preference for consistency partially mediated the relationship between religious fundamentalism and hostile sexism. The indirect effect of religious fundamentalism on modern racism through preference for consistency approached statistical significance. The interaction between need for structure and fear of invalidity partially mediated the relationship between religious fundamentalism and both homophobia and hostile sexism, with individuals high in need for structure and low in fear of invalidity having higher religious fundamentalism and prejudice.

Citations

• The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.

Cited by

• The Gendering of Language: A Comparison of Gender Equality in Countries with Gendered, Natural Gender, and Genderless Languages
• Critical consciousness moderates the relationship between transphobia and "bathroom bill" voting. [europepmc]
• Religiosity, Religious Fundamentalism, and Ambivalent Sexism Toward Girls and Women Among Adolescents and Young Adults Living in Germany. [europepmc]
• Policy attitudes toward adolescents transitioning gender. [europepmc]

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