Should the city be for everyone? The relationship between worldviews, ideological attitudes, and the approval of hostile design

Abstract

Expanding upon Duckitt's dual-process motivational model of ideology and prejudice (DPM; Duckitt, 2001), this research explores the psychological underpinnings of the approval of hostile design (AoHD) measures. Hostile design measures are interventions designed to deter undesirable behaviours and specific social groups in urban areas. Across three correlational studies (N = 798) conducted in Germany and the US, we investigated the relationship between AoHD, Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA), Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), as well as dangerous and competitive worldviews. AoHD was positively associated with RWA and SDO, as well as with dangerous and competitive worldviews. In line with the DPM, the relationship between a competitive worldview and AoHD is mediated by SDO in Studies 2 and 3. In addition, the relationship between a dangerous worldview and AoHD is mediated by RWA in Study 2 but not in Study 3. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.