Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Date of Defense

6-22-2013

Graduate Advisor

Brian Vandenberg, PhD

Committee

Miles L. Patterson, Ph.D.

Matthew Taylor, Ph.D.

Allon Uhlmann, Ph.D.

Abstract

The study investigated the relation of religious fundamentalism (RF) and prejudice in the presence of two threat conditions: epistemic uncertainty, introduced via threat to beliefs, and existential threat, presented through mortality salience induction. A model of RF as a belief system adopted to manage uncertainty and threat was also presented. Participants were 396 undergraduates, 192 of whom met inclusion requirements. RF was significantly related to prejudice toward women, toward homosexual individuals, and toward other religions, the latter relationship being strongest. No significant effects for threat condition were found. Results indicate that the uncertainty and/or threat introduced by the target groups varied in magnitude and that this uncertainty and/or threat was stronger than that posed by the threat conditions.

OCLC Number

862223392

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS