Intellectual humility in the sociopolitical domain

• Published in: Self and identity Vol. 19; no. 8; pp. 989 - 1016
• Main Authors: Krumrei-Mancuso, Elizabeth J., Newman, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hove Routledge 16.11.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: accuracy motivation; affective polarization; defense motivation; Immigration; Intellectual humility; political beliefs; political participation; Sociopolitical factors
• ISSN: 1529-8868; 1529-8876
• DOI: 10.1080/15298868.2020.1714711

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.