Collective futures: how projections about the future of society are related to actions and attitudes supporting social change

Bain, P.G, Hornsey, M.J, Bongiorno, R, Kashima, Y and Crimston, C.R (2013) 'Collective futures: how projections about the future of society are related to actions and attitudes supporting social change.' Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39 (4). pp. 523-539. ISSN 0146-1672

Abstract

We identified the active ingredients in people’s visions of society’s future (“collective futures”) that could drive political behavior in the present. In eight studies (N = 595), people imagined society in 2050 where climate change was mitigated (Study 1), abortion laws relaxed (Study 2), marijuana legalized (Study 3), or the power of different religious groups had increased (Studies 4-8). Participants rated how this future society would differ from today in terms of societal-level dysfunction and development (e.g., crime, inequality, education, technology), people’s character (warmth, competence, morality), and their values (e.g., conservation, self-transcendence). These measures were related to present-day attitudes/intentions that would promote/prevent this future (e.g., act on climate change, vote for a Muslim politician). A projection about benevolence in society (i.e., warmth/morality of people’s character) was the only dimension consistently and uniquely associated with present-day attitudes and intentions across contexts. Implications for social change theories, political communication, and policy design are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	future, social change, religion, social issues, benevolence, stereotype content
Divisions:	School of Sciences
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213478200
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2022 19:36
Last Modified:	17 Feb 2022 19:36
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/14597

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