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Explaining Differing Democratic Norm Commitment: Rethinking the Religion-Psychological Security-Democratic Norm Support Connection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2017

Marie A. Eisenstein  and
April K. Clark
Marie A. Eisenstein*
Affiliation:
Indiana University Northwest
April K. Clark*
Affiliation:
Northern Illinois University
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Marie A. Eisenstein, Indiana University Northwest, Department of Political Science, 3400 Broadway, Lindenwood Hall 406, Gary, IN 46408. E-mail: maeisens@iun.edu; or to: April K. Clark, Northern Illinois University, Department of Political Science, 1425 West Lincoln Hwy., Zulau Hall 415, DeKalb, IL 60115. Email: aclark9@niu.edu.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Marie A. Eisenstein, Indiana University Northwest, Department of Political Science, 3400 Broadway, Lindenwood Hall 406, Gary, IN 46408. E-mail: maeisens@iun.edu; or to: April K. Clark, Northern Illinois University, Department of Political Science, 1425 West Lincoln Hwy., Zulau Hall 415, DeKalb, IL 60115. Email: aclark9@niu.edu.
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Abstract

The psychological security index is an important predictor of democratic norm support. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the separate but independent contributions of dogmatism, self-esteem, and trust, the three components typically combined to create that index. Thus, we do not know the unique influence of these components on democratic norm commitment. We also do not know the exact nature of the influence of the multiple dimensions of religion (belief, belonging, behavior) on the separate psychological security components. Using structural equation modeling and two national surveys, we examine the religion-psychological security-democratic norm support relationship. Our findings do not fully support a negative association between religion and democratic values. In fact, no matter the influence of religious belief, belonging, or behavior on psychological security, the mediating link of psychological security to democratic norm support is what is most important. Indeed, any differences that manifest as a consequence of the various dimensions of religion disappear in the religion-psychological security-democratic norm support linkage. As such, anti-democratic values are a product of one's psychological attributes and are almost entirely unrelated to one's religion. Further, our findings challenge the theoretical underpinnings of the psychological security index, as we find little evidence that the separate components used to construct the composite measure, particularly trust, are an appropriate proxy for authoritarianism.

Type
Articles
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 2017 , pp. 753 - 785
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2017 

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