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12 - A Political Psychology of Ethnocentrism

from Part II - The Politics of Intergroup Attitudes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2022

By
Boris Bizumic  and
Hannah Sheppard
Edited by
Danny Osborne  and
Chris G. Sibley
Danny Osborne
Affiliation:
University of Auckland
Chris G. Sibley
Affiliation:
University of Auckland
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Summary

Ethnocentrism is an attitudinal construct that involves a strong sense of ethnic group self-centredness and self-importance. It is a universal phenomenon found across cultures and time periods. Although ethnocentrism can be expressed in many domains, it finds its expressions particularly significant in the political domain. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of ethnocentrism, with an emphasis on its implications for the field of political psychology. The chapter defines the concept and explains its unified theoretical approach, the group strength model of ethnocentrism. It discusses the role of ethnocentrism in political domains, such as nationalism, policy preferences, and political party and candidate support. Although ethnocentrism has been described as a 'delusion' by Gumplowicz back in 1879, it is a forceful delusion, which has a strong grasp over humans and is unlikely to disappear. Political psychologists, therefore, need to more carefully study ethnocentrism and its political implications across societies and political systems.

Keywords

EthnocentrismNationalismPrejudiceAttitudesPolitical behaviour
Type
Chapter
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The Cambridge Handbook of Political Psychology , pp. 198 - 213
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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