Publications by year
2020
Sweetman J, Newman GA (2020). Attentional efficiency does not explain the mental state × domain effect.
PLoS One,
15(6).
Abstract:
Attentional efficiency does not explain the mental state × domain effect.
The reduced importance of intent when judging purity (vs. harm) violations is some of the strongest evidence for distinct moral modules or systems: moral pluralism. However, research has indicated that some supposed differences between purity and harm moral domains are due to the relative weirdness of purity vignettes. This weirdness might lead to a failure to attend to or correctly process relevant mental state information. Such attentional failures could offer an alternative explanation (to separate moral systems) for the reduced exculpatory value of innocent intentions for purity violations. We tested if the different role of intent in each domain was moderated by individual differences in attentional efficiency, as measured by the Attention Network Task. If attentional efficiency explains the reduced exculpatory value of innocent intentions in purity (vs. harm) violations, then we would expect those high (vs. low) in attentional efficiency not to show the reduced exculpatory effect of innocent intentions in the purity (vs. harm) domain. Consistent with moral pluralism, results revealed no such moderation. Findings are discussed in relation to various ways of testing domain-general and domain-specific accounts of the mental state × domain effect, so that we might better understand the architecture of our moral minds.
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Sweetman J, Newman GA (2020). Replicating different roles of intent across moral domains.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE,
7(5).
Author URL.
Makanju D, Livingstone AG, Sweetman J (2020). Testing the effect of historical representations on collective identity and action.
PLOS ONE,
15(4), e0231051-e0231051.
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2019
Sweetman J, Maio GR, Spears R, Manstead ASR, Livingstone AG (2019). Attitude toward protest uniquely predicts (normative and nonnormative) political action by (advantaged and disadvantaged) group members.
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,
82, 115-128.
Abstract:
Attitude toward protest uniquely predicts (normative and nonnormative) political action by (advantaged and disadvantaged) group members
© 2019 the Authors We find evidence that explicit (but not implicit) measures of general attitude towards protest uniquely predict normative and nonnormative political action tendencies, and behavior, over and above extant models of political action. Protest attitude uniquely predicts both the political action tendencies of members of disadvantaged groups and willingness to engage in solidarity-based action on behalf of such groups. Furthermore, we find some evidence that protest attitude is able to account for the effects of mobilization messages over a political issue; these messages increase political action tendencies by making attitude towards protest more positive. The results indicate that overall attitude toward protest reflects a wide array of affective, cognitive, and behavioral factors associated with protest that more specific, established predictors of collective political action do not tap. As such, general protest attitude offers an important addition to extant models of collective political action and efforts to examine the psychological processes underpinning political cognition and action.
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2018
Stewart AL, Sweetman J (2018). Scholarship and Activism Diverge: Responding to MLK's Call with Theory and Research on Diversity, Political Action, and Resistance to Oppression.
Journal of Social Issues,
74, 204-213.
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Sweetman J (2018). When Similarities are more Important than Differences: “Politically Black”Union Members’ Experiences of Racism and Participation in Union Leadership.
Journal of Social Issues,
74, 244-264.
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2017
Sweetman JP (2017).
Evaluation of train the trainers unconscious bias training (Phase II)., Equality Challenge Unit.
Abstract:
Evaluation of train the trainers unconscious bias training (Phase II)
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2016
Sweetman J, Whitmarsh LE (2016). Climate Justice: High-Status Ingroup Social Models Increase Pro-Environmental Action Through Making Actions Seem More Moral.
Top Cogn Sci,
8(1), 196-221.
Abstract:
Climate Justice: High-Status Ingroup Social Models Increase Pro-Environmental Action Through Making Actions Seem More Moral.
Recent work has suggested that our cognitive biases and moral psychology may pose significant barriers to tackling climate change. Here, we report evidence that through status and group-based social influence processes, and our moral sense of justice, it may be possible to employ such characteristics of the human mind in efforts to engender pro-environmental action. We draw on applied work demonstrating the efficacy of social modeling techniques in order to examine the indirect effects of social model status and group membership (through perceptions of efficacy, pro-environmental social identity and moral judgments of how fair it is for individuals to perform particular pro-environmental actions) on pro-environmental action tendencies. We find evidence that high- (vs. low-) status models increase pro-environmental action, in part, through making such actions seem morally fairer to undertake. This effect of high-status models only occurs when they share a meaningful ingroup membership with the target of influence. Further, we find evidence that this conditional effect of high-status models may also have a direct impact on action tendencies. While the exact behaviors that are influenced may vary across student and non-student samples, we argue that a focus on the "justice pathway" to action and the social-cognitive features of models may offer a good opportunity for cognitive and behavioral scientists to integrate insights from basic research with those stemming from more applied research efforts.
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Stewart AL, Pratto F, Bou Zeineddine F, Sweetman J, Eicher V, Licata L, Morselli D, Saab R, Aiello A, Chryssochoou X, et al (2016). International support for the Arab uprisings: Understanding sympathetic collective action using theories of social dominance and social identity.
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations,
19(1), 6-26.
Abstract:
International support for the Arab uprisings: Understanding sympathetic collective action using theories of social dominance and social identity
© 2015, the Author(s) 2015. Inspired by the popular Arab protests against oppressive regimes that began in 2010, people around the world protested in sympathy with the Arab peoples. The present research draws on two major theories of intergroup relations to develop an initial integrative model of sympathetic collective action. We incorporate social dominance theory’s (SDT) concept of (rejectionist) legitimizing myths with the solidarity and emotional mediation concept of the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA) to understand motivations for sympathetic collective action among bystanders. Using data from 12 nations (N = 1,480), we tested three models: (a) SIMCA (i.e. solidarity, anger, and efficacy), (b) a social dominance theory model of collective action (i.e. social dominance orientation and ideologies concerning Arab competence), and (c) an integrated model of sympathetic collective action combining both theories. Results find the greatest support for an integrated model of collective action. Discussion focuses on theoretical pluralism and suggestions for future research.
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Holroyd J, Sweetman J (2016). The Heterogeneity of Implicit Bias. In Brownstein M, Saul J (Eds.)
Philosophy and implicit bias: Metaphysics and epistemology, New York: Oxford University Press.
Abstract:
The Heterogeneity of Implicit Bias
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2015
Livingstone AG, Sweetman J, Bracht EM, Haslam SA (2015). “We have no quarrel with you”: Effects of group status on characterizations of
“conflict” with an outgroup.
European Journal of Social Psychology,
45, 16-26.
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2014
Sweetman J, Leach CW, Spears R, Pratto F, Saab R (2014). "I have a dream": a typology of social change goals.
Journal of Social and Political Psychology,
1, 293-320.
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Pratto F, Saguy T, Stewart AL, Morselli D, Foels R, Aiello A, Aranda M, Cidam A, Chryssochoou X, Durrheim K, et al (2014). Attitudes Toward Arab Ascendance: Israeli and Global Perspectives.
Psychological Science,
25(1), 85-94.
Abstract:
Attitudes Toward Arab Ascendance: Israeli and Global Perspectives
Arab nations are decades behind many other previously colonized nations in developing stronger economies, more democratic institutions, and more autonomy and self-government, in part as a result of external interference. The year 2011 brought the potential for greater Arab autonomy through popular uprisings against autocratic governments in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen, and through the Palestinian request for state recognition by the United Nations. We examined the psychology of support for Arab ascendancy among adults in 14 nations in the Balkans, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. We predicted and found that people low on social dominance orientation endorsed forming an independent Palestinian state and desired that the Arab uprisings succeed. Rejection of ideologies that legitimize outside interference with Arabs mediated this support. Measures and model results were robust across world regions. We discuss theoretical implications regarding the advent of new ideologies and extending social dominance theory to address international relations. © the Author(s) 2013.
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2013
Sweetman J, Spears R, Livingstone AG, Manstead ASR (2013). Admiration regulates social hierarchy: Antecedents, dispositions, and effects on intergroup behavior.
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,
49(3), 534-542.
Abstract:
Admiration regulates social hierarchy: Antecedents, dispositions, and effects on intergroup behavior
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. In four studies, we report evidence that admiration affects intergroup behaviors that regulate social hierarchy. We demonstrate that manipulating the legitimacy of status relations affects admiration for the dominant and that this emotion negatively predicts political action tendencies aimed at social change. In addition, we show that greater warmth and competence lead to greater admiration for an outgroup, which in turn positively predicts deferential behavior and intergroup learning. We also demonstrate that, for those with a disposition to feel admiration, increasing admiration for an outgroup decreases willingness to take political action against that outgroup. Finally,we showthatwhen the object of admiration is a subversive "martyr," admiration positively predicts political action tendencies and behavior aimed at challenging the status quo. These findings provide the first evidence for the important role of admiration in regulating social hierarchy.
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Pratto F, Çidam A, Stewart AL, Zeineddine FB, Aranda M, Aiello A, Chryssochoou X, Cichocka A, Cohrs JC, Durrheim K, et al (2013). Social Dominance in Context and in Individuals: Contextual Moderation of Robust Effects of Social Dominance Orientation in 15 Languages and 20 Countries.
Social Psychological and Personality Science,
4(5), 587-599.
Abstract:
Social Dominance in Context and in Individuals: Contextual Moderation of Robust Effects of Social Dominance Orientation in 15 Languages and 20 Countries
We tested the internal reliability and predictive validity of a new 4-item Short Social Dominance Orientation (SSDO) scale among adults in 20 countries, using 15 languages (N = 2,130). Low scores indicate preferring group inclusion and equality to dominance. As expected, cross-nationally, the lower people were on SSDO, the more they endorsed more women in leadership positions, protecting minorities, and aid to the poor. Multilevel moderation models showed that each effect was stronger in nations where a relevant kind of group power differentiation was more salient. Distributions of SSDO were positively skewed, despite use of an extended response scale; results show rejecting group hierarchy is normative. The short scale is effective. Challenges regarding translations, use of short scales, and intersections between individual and collective levels in social dominance theory are discussed. © the Author(s) 2013.
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2011
Spears R, Leach C, Zomeran M, Ispas A, Sweetman JP, Tausch N (2011). Intergroup Emotions: More than the Sum of the Parts. In Nyklâiécek I, Vingerhoets AJJM, Zeelenberg M (Eds.)
Emotion Regulation and Well-Being, Springer, 121-145.
Abstract:
Intergroup Emotions: More than the Sum of the Parts
Abstract.
2010
Spears R, Greenwood R, de Lemus S, Sweetman J (2010). Legitimacy, social identity, and power. In Guinote A, Vescio TK (Eds.) The Social Psychology of Power, Guilford Publications, 251-283.
