ABSTRACT
We argue that Henrich et al. do not go far enough in their critique: Sample diversification, while important, will not lead to the detection of generalizable principles. For that it will be necessary to broaden the range of contexts in which data are gathered. We demonstrate the power of contexts to alter results even in the presence of sample diversification.
Subject(s)
Cross-Cultural Comparison , Social Environment , Humans , Motivation , Social BehaviorABSTRACT
The cultural cognition thesis holds that individuals form risk perceptions that reflect their commitments to contested views of the good society. We conducted a study that used the dispute over mandatory HPV vaccination to test the cultural cognition thesis. Although public health officials have recommended that all girls aged 11 or 12 be vaccinated for HPV-a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer-political controversy has blocked adoption of mandatory school-enrollment vaccination programs in all but one state. An experimental study of a large sample of American adults (N = 1,538) found that cultural cognition generates disagreement about the risks and benefits of the vaccine through two mechanisms: biased assimilation, and the credibility heuristic. We discuss theoretical and practical implications.
Subject(s)
Cognition , Culture , Fear , Papillomavirus Vaccines , Female , Humans , Male , Mandatory Programs , Middle Aged , Perception , Risk Assessment , United StatesABSTRACT
What explains controversy over outpatient commitment laws (OCLs), which authorize courts to order persons with mental illness to accept outpatient treatment? We hypothesized that attitudes toward OCLs reflect "cultural cognition" (DiMaggio, P. Annl Rev Sociol 23:263-287, 1997), which motivates individuals to conform their beliefs about policy-relevant facts to their cultural values. In a study involving a diverse sample of Americans (N = 1,496), we found that individuals who are hierarchical and communitarian tend to support OCLs, while those who are egalitarian and individualistic tend to oppose them. These relationships, moreover, fit the cultural cognition hypothesis: that is, rather than directly influencing OCL support, cultural values, mediated by affect, shaped individuals' perceptions of how effectively OCLs promote public health and safety. We discuss the implications for informed public deliberation over OCLs.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care/legislation & jurisprudence , Commitment of Mentally Ill/legislation & jurisprudence , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Prisoners/legislation & jurisprudence , Prisoners/psychology , Public Policy/legislation & jurisprudence , Social Values , Adult , Coercion , Community Mental Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence , Female , Homicide/legislation & jurisprudence , Homicide/psychology , Humans , Insanity Defense , Male , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Models, Psychological , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Patient Compliance/psychology , Politics , Public Opinion , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , Social IdentificationABSTRACT
How is public opinion towards nanotechnology likely to evolve? The 'familiarity hypothesis' holds that support for nanotechnology will likely grow as awareness of it expands. The basis of this conjecture is opinion polling, which finds that few members of the public claim to know much about nanotechnology, but that those who say they do are substantially more likely to believe its benefits outweigh its risks. Some researchers, however, have avoided endorsing the familiarity hypothesis, stressing that cognitive heuristics and biases could create anxiety as the public learns more about this novel science. We conducted an experimental study aimed at determining how members of the public would react to balanced information about nanotechnology risks and benefits. Finding no support for the familiarity hypothesis, the study instead yielded strong evidence that public attitudes are likely to be shaped by psychological dynamics associated with cultural cognition.
