Dangers and Strangers: Pathogenic threat, fear, and perceived vulnerability do not predict ethnocentric orientations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/wpcqb
• Publication Date: 2020-10-15T21:19:25Z
• Authors: Stephanie Josephi...; Michał Stefańczyk; Michał Pieniak; Judit Martínez Mo...; Jakub Binter; Ondra Pešout; Patrick Smela; Frank Scharnowski; David Steyrl
• Keywords: Pandemic; Vulnerability; Outgroup

***Please refer not to the preprint, but tp published version (open access!): https://ishe.org/volume-36-2021-2/dangers-and-strangers-pathogenic-threat-fear-and-perceived-vulnerability-do-not-predict-ethnocentric-orientations-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-europe/ ***Previous research has postulated effects of environmental stress on ingroup/outgroup thinking: The higher pathogenic risk and perceived vulnerability it, ethnocentric orientation. Here, we examine orientations in Austria, Poland, Spain Czech Republic spring 2020, as spread SARS-CoV2 was rise lockdown measures were introduced throughout Europe. Critically, these countries affected differentially by SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 mortality. 333 participants asked complete questionnaires assessing identification with all humanity, attachment style, disease at beginning end first European curfews. Additionally, they answered questions regarding their social interactions personal consequences crisis. To investigate relationship between variables ethnocentrism, train two types machine-learning models predict ethnocentrism based complex interplay interpersonal (psychological traits, interactions) conditions (economic threats, local mortality, viral spread, measures).We find that humanity relation narrower ingroups infectability did systematically change over course lockdowns, whereas observe a slight decrease germ aversion. Importantly, none our could any inter-individual differences versus wider groups environmental, psychological, social, demographic variables. Our results indicate connected economic threat, other psychosocial variables, do contribute predicting orientations.Cumulatively, support hypothesis threat predicts ingroups.Our findings are discussed context open debate related influence harsh environments group psychology, might inspire further this topic during unprecedented global pandemic.