Institutional Change Affects Perceived and Personal Intergroup Attitudes

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Political Science
• Sociology

Background:

• Institutional policies profoundly influence societal norms and individual beliefs.
• Understanding the link between policy changes and public attitudes is crucial for social cohesion.
• Previous research has explored policy impacts, but the nuanced effects on intergroup attitudes require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how institutional policy changes affect policy support and attitudes toward impacted social groups.
• To investigate the influence of hypothetical policy bans versus affirmations on public perception.
• To assess the short- and long-term effects of real-world policy changes on attitudes and social norms.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Experimental design presenting hypothetical legislative bans versus affirmations on various practices.
• Study 2: Longitudinal study tracking attitudinal changes following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling.
• Data collection involved surveys measuring policy support, intergroup attitudes, and endorsement of social roles.

Main Results:

• Hypothetical policy bans led to decreased policy support and increased negative attitudes toward affected groups.
• The Dobbs ruling did not alter personal support for abortion restrictions long-term.
• Participants showed increased perception of support for traditional gender roles and stronger personal endorsement of these attitudes post-ruling.

Conclusions:

• Institutional policies possess significant power to shape individual intergroup attitudes and social perceptions.
• Policy changes can subtly shift attitudes towards social norms and roles, even without altering direct policy support.
• Findings highlight the critical role of policy in mediating societal beliefs and intergroup dynamics.