Predicting right-wing authoritarianism via personality and dangerous world beliefs: direct, indirect, and interactive effects.
In an Italian sample (N = 483, 78.23% women, mean age = 27.61 years old), we used structural equation modeling with latent variables and interactions to analyze the direct, indirect, and interactive effects exerted on right-wing authoritarianism by the Big Five factors of personality and by dangerous world beliefs. Openness, Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness exerted direct effects on right-wing authoritarianism; the first two relationships were partially mediated by dangerous world beliefs. Most importantly, the relationship between dangerous world beliefs and right-wing authoritarianism was moderated by Openness: dangerous world beliefs significantly influenced right-wing authoritarianism solely for participants high in Openness. Limitations and possible developments of this research are discussed.
University of Torino, Italy.
Francesca
F
Dallago
Alberto
A
Mirisola
Michele
M
Roccato
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001318:Authoritarianism; D002605:Character; D003242:Conscience; D003469:Culture; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012938:Social Perception; D012945:Social Values; D055815:Young Adult