Social psychology, Personality Research
Introduction People are often confronted with scientific information that is personally relevant. For example, scientific evidence may be relevant to their moral convictions. As a specific example, think about research that addresses the question of whether or not the death penalty is able to deter criminal behavior. The death penalty as a social issue is relevant to the moral conviction “killing a human being is wrong.” Similarly, media violence is relevant to the moral conviction of nonviolence. Scientific evidence may also be relevant to a social group one belongs to. For example, scientific research on the ecological and health consequences of a vegetarian diet is directly relevant to vegetarians. Similarly, scientific evidence on the effectiveness of psychotherapy is relevant to people who belong to the group of psychotherapists. In our research, we investigate how perceptions and evaluations of scientific evidence are affected by being attached to a social group or holding a moral conviction. Furthermore, we investigate when and why moral convictions and perceived group membership (“identification”) affect the way people process and communicate about research.
Previous findings In our previous research, we have addressed these questions by investigating the debate about violent video games. This controversial issue is of high societal importance and involves many stakeholders (e.g., the video game industry, politicians, parents, the media, video game players). Interestingly, scientific findings on detrimental effects of violent video games are highly relevant to both the social group of video game players and the moral convictions of pacifists (i.e., people who regard nonviolence as sacred).
Results show that being confronted with scientific evidence that supports detrimental effects of violent video games is perceived as threatening by video game players. Furthermore, perceived threat was highest for people who feel strongly attached to the group of video game players (i.e., strongly identified video game players). Strongly identifying with the group of video game players also promotes negative evaluations of scientific evidence that supports detrimental effects of violent video games. Strongly identified video game players feel stigmatized by video game research and are angry about it, resulting in negative evaluations of scientific evidence. Furthermore, strongly identified video game players are critical of not only single studies but the whole research area that addresses the question of the effects of violent video games.
With regard to moral convictions, our results demonstrate that violence in video games is perceived as threatening, particularly by pacifists. Such a moral threat promotes biased processing of scientific evidence on violent video game effects. Biased processing means that scientific evidence confirming detrimental effects of violent video games is considered more important and more valuable than evidence that disconfirms the detrimental effects. Also, people select more detriment-confirming compared to detriment-disconfirming scientific evidence when they search for new information on the issue.
Aims for future researchIn our future research, we want to investigate (a) whether our previous findings are generalizable to other issues (e.g., the debate about genetically modified food or the effectiveness of psychotherapy), (b) the underlying psychological processes that can explain our effects, and (c) the behavioral consequences that result from our effects.
Regarding the underlying psychological processes, we will investigate whether the negative evaluations of scientific findings that are threatening to a social group result from the fact that strongly identified group members differ from weakly identified group members in the way they read such findings. Specifically, strongly identified group members might search for mistakes in studies they read. To determine the underlying motivation that drives the effects of moral threats, we will investigate whether people’s goal is to shore up the moral order of society or to protect their self-view as a good and moral person.
Another interesting goal of our research is to investigate the behavioral consequences that result from such effects. For example, we will investigate whether “flaming” on the social web can be a consequence of a threat directed toward a particular social group. We will further investigate whether people use communication via the internet (e.g., on science blogs) to convince other people that a threatened moral conviction is important and needs to be protected.
Publications:
Nauroth, P., Gollwitzer, M., Kozuchowski, H., Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2016). The effects of social identity threat and social identity affirmation on laypersons’ perception of scientists. Accepted for publication in Public Understanding of Science.
Rothmund, T., Gollwitzer, M., Bender, J. & Klimmt, C. (2015). Short- and long-term effects of virtual violence on interpersonal trust. Media Psychology, 18, 106-133. doi: 10.1080/15213269.2013.841526
Rothmund, T., Bender, J., Nauroth, P. & Gollwitzer, M. (2015). Public concerns about violent video games are moral concerns – How moral threat can make pacifists susceptible to scientific and political claims against violent video games. European Journal of Social Psychology, 45, 769–783. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2125
Nauroth, P., Gollwitzer, M., Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2015). Social identity threat motivates science-discrediting online comments. PLoS ONE, 10, e0117476 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117476
Nauroth, P., Gollwitzer, M., Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2014). Gamers against science: The case of the violent video games debate. European Journal of Social Psychology, 44, 104-116. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.1998
Nauroth, P., Bender, J., Rothmund, T. & Gollwitzer, M. (2014). Die “Killerspiele”-Diskussion: Wie die Forschung zur Wirkung gewalthaltiger Bildschirmspiele in der Öffentlichkeit wahrgenommen wird. In T. Porsch & S. Pieschl (Hrsg.), Neue Medien und deren Schatten (S. 81-100). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Maier, M., Rothmund, T., Retzbach, A., Otto, L. & Besley, J. (2014). Informal learning through science media usage. Educational Psychologist, 49(2), 86-103. doi: 10.1080/00461520.2014.916215
Gollwitzer, M., Rothmund, T., Klimmt, C., Nauroth, P. & Bender, J. (2014). Gründe und Konsequenzen einer verzerrten Darstellung und Wahrnehmung sozialwissenschaftlicher Forschungsbefunde: Das Beispiel der „Killerspiele-Debatte“. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 17, 101-117. doi: 10.1007/s11618-014-0511-8
Sjöström, A., Sowka, A., Gollwitzer, M., Klimmt, C., & Rothmund, T. (2013). Exploring audience judgments of social science in media discourse: The case of the violent video games debate. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 25, 27–38.
Bender, J., Rothmund, T. & Gollwitzer, M. (2013). Biased estimation of violent video game effects on aggression: Contributing factors and boundary conditions. Societies, 3, 383-398. doi:10.3390/soc3040383
Conference Contributions:
Nauroth, P., Gollwitzer, M., Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2015). Das kann ja nicht sein, so einer bin ich nicht: Glauben Computerspieler, was die Forschung über sie herausfindet? Vortrag auf der Abschlusstagung SPP1409 “Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit”, 29. September – 01. Oktober in Münster.
Gollwitzer, M. (2015). Motivierte Wissenschaftsrezeption bei wissenschaftlichen Laien. Arbeitsgruppe auf der 15. Tagung der Fachgruppe Sozialpsychologie (FGSP), 06.-09. September in Potsdam. Auflistung der Einzelbeiträge:
Gollwitzer, M., & Nauroth, P. (2015). Soziale Identitätsbedrohung erklärt negative Einstellungen gegenüber und einen destruktiven Umgang mit Wissenschaft.
Bender, J., Rothmund, T., Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2015). Environmental values shape environmental behaviour if they are threatened in the situation and central to the self-concept. Vortrag auf der 11th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, 24.-26. August in Groningen.
Gollwitzer, M. & Nauroth, P. (2015). Gamers against science: Social identity threat motivates the devaluation of science and triggers science-discrediting online comments. Vortrag auf dem Annual Meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP), 03.-06. Juli in San Diego.
Bender, J., Rothmund, T., Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2015). Bedrohung von Werten, Wert-Zentralität und politisches Verhalten – Die Debatte um gentechnisch veränderte Lebensmittel. Vortrag auf dem Small Group Meeting zum Themenkomplex “Bedrohung & Moral”, 12.-13. März in Kassel.
Rothmund, T. (2015). Concerns about violent video games – Perspectives from psychological science in Germany. Vortrag auf dem International Workshop „Cultures of Video Game Concern – in international comparison“, 23.-24. Januar in Bochum.
Nauroth, P., Gollwitzer, M., Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2015). Group-based motivated science reception. Vortrag auf dem Workshop “Motivated Science Reception”, 14.-16. Januar in Annweiler.
Bender, J., Rothmund, T., Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2015). Motivated Science Reception as a Reaction to Moral Threat. Vortrag auf dem Workshop “Motivated Science Reception”, 14.-16. Januar in Annweiler.
Rothmund, T. (2014). The violent video games debate – Media effects research and its public understanding. Eingeladener Vortrag beim XIX Workshop Aggression, 20.-22. November in Berlin.
Nauroth, P. & Gollwitzer, M (2014). Posting against science – The case of the violent video games debate. Vortrag auf dem 17th General Meeting of the European Association of Social Psychology, 09.-12. Juli in Amsterdam.
Bender, J., Rothmund, T., Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2014). Biased Information Processing of Scientific Evidence on Moral Issues: The Violent Video Games Debate. Vortrag auf dem 17th General Meeting of the European Association of Social Psychology, 09.-12. Juli in Amsterdam.
Nauroth, P. & Gollwitzer, M (2014). When science stigmatizes: Collective action against perceived stigmatization by social science research. Vortrag auf der 15th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research, 19.-22. Juni in New York.
Bender, J., Rothmund, T., Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2014). Motivated processing of social science research: How threatening basic moral values promotes value-reaffirming behavior. Vortrag auf der 15th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research, 19.-22. Juni in New York.
Rothmund, T, Gollwitzer, M., Bender, J., & Klimmt, C. (2014). Short- and long-term effects of video game violence on interpersonal trust. Vortrag auf der 64th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, 22.-26. Mai in Seattle.
Nauroth, P. & Gollwitzer, M. (2014). Action against science – The case of the violent video games debate. Vortrag auf der Doktorandenschule des SPP 1409 “Science and the Public”, 16. Mai in Marburg.
Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2014). Effects of moral value threat and value-centrality on biased evaluation of scientific evidence and science crediting/discrediting online comments: a cognitive or motivational process? Vortrag auf der Doktorandenschule des SPP 1409 “Science and the Public”, 16. Mai in Marburg.
Nauroth, P. & Gollwitzer, M. (2013). Gamers against science: Die Rolle sozialer Identitätsbedrohung bei der Rezeption empirischer Forschungsbefunde. Vortrag auf der Tagung Kognition und Kooperation: Überzeugungen in Gehirn und Gesellschaft, 14.-15. November in Tübingen.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2013). Bedrohung moralischer Wertüberzeugungen und kritische Kommunikation über Forschung. Vortrag auf der 12. Arbeitstagung der Fachgruppe Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik, 23.-25. September in Greifswald.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2013). Forschungskritische Kommunikation als Reaktion auf moralische Wertebedrohung. Poster auf der 14. Tagung der Fachgruppe Sozialpsychologie, 01.-04. September in Hagen.
Rothmund, T. & Bender, J, (2013). How value threat can make pacifists oppose violent video games – Basic and applied research perspectives in political psychology. Vortrag auf der 14. Tagung der Fachgruppe Sozialpsychologie, 01.-04. September in Hagen.
Bender, J. (2013). Sacred Values and Biased Information Processing. Vortrag auf dem SoDoc-Workshop, 21.-23. Juni in Köln.
Rothmund, T. & Bender, J, (2013). How value threat can make pacifists oppose violent video games. Poster bei dem Small Group Meetings „Social Determinants and Consequences of Threat“ der EASP, 17.-18. Juni in Berlin.
Nauroth, P. & Gollwitzer, M. (2013). Gamers against science: Empirical research on violent video games as social identity threat. Vortrag auf dem EASP Medium Size Meeting “Intergroup conflict: The cognitive, emotional, and behavioral consequences of communication”, 27.-30. Juni in Soesterberg.
Bender, J. (2013). Geschützte Werte und selektive Informationsverarbeitung. Vortrag auf dem 10. Doktorandenworkshop der Fachgruppe Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik, 07.-10. April in Landau.
Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2013). The role of social identification in the reception of empirical research findings in video games players. Vortrag auf der Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, 24.-27. März in Wien.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2013). Effects of moral convictions on biased information processing and political engagement: The case of the violent video games debate. Poster auf der Preconference “Justice and Morality” of the 14th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 17. Januar in New Orleans, USA.
Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2013). The role of social identification in the reception of empirical research findings in video games players. Poster auf der Preconference “Attitudes” of the 14th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 17. Januar in New Orleans, USA.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2013). Effects of moral convictions on biased information processing and political engagement: The case of the violent video games debate. Poster auf dem 14th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 17.-19. Januar in New Orleans, USA.
Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2013). The role of social identification in the reception of empirical research findings in video games players. Poster auf dem 14th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 17.-19. Januar in New Orleans, USA.
Rothmund, T.,& Gollwitzer, M. (2012). Motivierte Informationsverarbeitung. Arbeitsgruppe auf dem 48. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs), 23.-27. September in Bielefeld. Auflistung der Einzelbeiträge:
Thomas, N., Baumert, A., & Schmitt, M. (2012) Differentielle Erinnerung gerechtigkeitsthematischer Information in Abhängigkeit vom motivationalen Zustand?
Mojzisch, A.,& Schulz-Hard, S. (2012). Geschlechtsspezifische Effekte bei konfirmatorischer Informationssuche unter Stress.
Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2012). Die Rolle von sozialer Identität und Stigmatisierung bei der Rezeption empirischer Forschungsbefunde in Videospielern.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2012). Der Einfluss moralischer Überzeugungen auf die Rezeption empirischer Forschungsbefunde zur Wirkung gewalthaltiger Bildschirmspiele.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2012). Effects of moral convictions on selective information processing: The case of the violent video games debate. Vortrag auf der 14th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research (ISJR), 09.-12. September in Tel Aviv.
Bender, J., & Rothmund, T. (2012). Selective exposure to science information and political engagement: The case of the violent video games debate. Vortrag auf dem Workshop “The internet as a source of science information” des SPP 1409 “Science and the Public”, 08.-09. November in Mülheim an der Ruhr.
Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2012). The role of social identity and stigmatization in the reception of empirical research findings in video game players. Vortrag auf dem SoDoc-Workshop, 31. Mai – 3. Juni in Würzburg.
Nauroth, P., & Gollwitzer, M. (2012). The role of social identity and stigmatization in the reception of empirical research findings in video game players. Vortrag auf der Doktorandenschule des SPP 1409 “Science and the Public”, 22.-23. Mai in Kassel.
Bender, J. & Rothmund, T. (2012). The effects of moral values on the reception of scientific evidence: The case of the violent video games debate. Vortrag auf der Doktorandenschule des SPP 1409 “Science and the Public”, 22.-23. Mai in Kassel.
Applicant 1
Prof. Dr. Mario Gollwitzer
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Fachbereich 04 – Psychologie
AG Psychologische Methodenlehre
Gutenbergstraße 18
35032 Marburg
Tel.: +49 6421 2823669 mario.gollwitzer@staff.uni-marburg.de
website
Research Interest:
Social psychological research on retributive justice (including revenge and punishment)
Individual differences in ‘justice sensitivity’ and their relation to moral reasoning and moral behavior
Effects of violent video games on cognition, emotion, and behavior
Effects and efficiencies of aggression prevention and social skills trainings among children and adolescents
Science communication
Applicant 2
Jun. Prof. Dr. Tobias Rothmund
Universität Koblenz-Landau
Fachbereich 8: Psychologie
Fortstraße 7
76829 Landau (Pfalz)
Tel.: +49 6341 28031304
rothmund@uni-landau.de
website
Research Interest:
Political psychology (e.g. political dispositions and ideologies, psychological reactions to norm violations, and perceived injustice in politics)
Media- and communication psychology (e.g. psychological effects of cooperation and competition in video games, science communication)
Social- and personality psychology (e.g. moral dispositions and information processing, stability and variability of dispositions)
Staff 1
Jens Bender
Universität Koblenz-Landau
Fachbereich 8: Psychologie
Fortstraße 7
76829 Landau
Tel.: +49 6341 28031497
bender@uni-landau.de
website
Research Interest
Biased information processing
Moral values and convictions
Science communication
Violent video game effects
Staff 2
Peter Nauroth
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Fachbereich Psychologie
AG Psychologische Methodenlehre
Gutenbergstraße 18
35032 Marburg
Tel.: +49 6421 2823616
peter.nauroth@uni-marburg.de
website
Research Interest
Science communication
Social identity
Stigmatization