TY - JOUR
T1 - Cultural Inertia
T2 - Framework of Change and Intergroup Relations
AU - Armenta, Angel
AU - Alvarez, Miriam J.
AU - Aguilera, Rafael
AU - Hitlan, Robert
AU - Federico, Christopher
AU - Zárate, Michael A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Cultural change is theorized to generate intergroup hostility. Three experiments apply the Cultural Inertia Model to test the effects of change on intergroup relations. Two predictions of cultural inertia were tested: (a) cultures at rest tend to stay at rest and (b) individual difference variables function as psychological anchors. In static societies, perceived change leads to greater threat (Experiment 1), endorsement of anti-immigration legislation (Experiment 1), and collective angst (Experiments 1 and 2). Perceptions of change in static societies lead to more fear-related emotional reactions (Experiment 3). Framing cultural change as continuous rather than abrupt may be a solution for reducing negative reactions caused by cultural change (Experiments 2 and 3). Individual difference factors function as anchors that cement individuals in a state of uniformity (Experiment 2). The findings demonstrate that social interactions rely on perceptions toward change and individual difference factors that anchor one’s willingness to accept change.
AB - Cultural change is theorized to generate intergroup hostility. Three experiments apply the Cultural Inertia Model to test the effects of change on intergroup relations. Two predictions of cultural inertia were tested: (a) cultures at rest tend to stay at rest and (b) individual difference variables function as psychological anchors. In static societies, perceived change leads to greater threat (Experiment 1), endorsement of anti-immigration legislation (Experiment 1), and collective angst (Experiments 1 and 2). Perceptions of change in static societies lead to more fear-related emotional reactions (Experiment 3). Framing cultural change as continuous rather than abrupt may be a solution for reducing negative reactions caused by cultural change (Experiments 2 and 3). Individual difference factors function as anchors that cement individuals in a state of uniformity (Experiment 2). The findings demonstrate that social interactions rely on perceptions toward change and individual difference factors that anchor one’s willingness to accept change.
KW - cultural inertia
KW - intergroup relations
KW - majority
KW - minority
KW - threat
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125795233&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/01461672221076209
DO - 10.1177/01461672221076209
M3 - Article
C2 - 35184628
AN - SCOPUS:85125795233
SN - 0146-1672
VL - 49
SP - 659
EP - 672
JO - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
JF - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
IS - 5
ER -