The Role of Religiosity in the Development of Hate Feelings in Light of Identity Threat

Weerink, Lieke (2025) The Role of Religiosity in the Development of Hate Feelings in Light of Identity Threat. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Despite the major role that religiosity plays in many individuals’ lives, little is known about its relationship with hate. Previous literature suggests that religion can both protect against and increase vulnerability to threats by exerting influence on appraisals. The purpose of this study was to explore when religiosity affects hate in response to identity threats. It was hypothesized that threat type would moderate the effect of religiosity on hate and that threat type would directly predict hate. Additionally, the main effect of religiosity on hate was explored. United States residents were recruited via an online research platform (N = 497). Participants constructed a profile based on personally important identity categories and then received either a categorization or a distinctiveness threat targeted at one of these identities. Thereafter, they filled out the hate scale and rated their level of religious identification on a continuum. ANCOVA results showed support for the interaction effect, but no main effect was found. So, religiosity or threat type alone did not predict hate, but distinctiveness threats did predict more hate as religiosity increased. In line with previous research, the results showed that religiosity may predict hate depending on specific situational characteristics, like identity threat type.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Martinez Moreno, C.A.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	10 Jul 2025 15:11
Last Modified:	10 Jul 2025 15:11
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5450

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