Harmful Ideas, The Structure and Consequences of Anti‐ S emitic Beliefs in P oland

• Published in: Political psychology Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 821 - 839
• Main Authors: Bilewicz, Michal, Winiewski, Mikołaj, Kofta, Mirosław, Wójcik, Adrian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2013
• ISSN: 0162-895X; 1467-9221
• DOI: 10.1111/pops.12024

The harmfulness of anti‐ S emitic beliefs is widely discussed in current political and legal debates (e.g., Cutler v. Dorn ). At the same time, empirical studies of the psychological consequences of such beliefs are scarce. The present research is an attempt to explore the structure of contemporary anti‐ S emitic beliefs in P oland—and to evaluate their predictive role in discriminatory intentions and behavior targeting J ews. Another aim was to determine dispositional, situational, and identity correlates of different forms of anti‐ S emitic beliefs and behavior. Study 1, performed on a nation‐wide representative sample of P olish adults (N = 979), suggests a three‐factorial structure of anti‐ S emitic beliefs, consisting of: (1) belief in J ewish conspiracy, (2) traditional religious anti‐Judaic beliefs, and (3) secondary anti‐ S emitic beliefs, focusing on Holocaust commemoration. Of these three beliefs, belief in J ewish conspiracy was the closest antecedent of anti‐ S emitic behavioral intentions. Study 2 ( N  = 600 Internet users in P oland) confirmed the three‐factor structure of anti‐ S emitic beliefs and proved that these beliefs explain actual behavior toward J ews in monetary donations. Both studies show that anti‐ S emitic beliefs are related to authoritarian personality characteristics, victimhood‐based social identity, and relative deprivation.