Formerly Religious Individuals Exhibit High Left-Wing Authoritarianism
Study suggests religious cognitive patterns persist even after adopting new secular worldviews.
1Religious Residue Hypothesis
Psychologists Daryl R. Van Tongeren and Shauna M. Bowes investigated whether religious cognitive frameworks persist after deconversion. Their study, published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, explores the religious residue hypothesis. This concept suggests that mental pathways formed through religious socialization remain intact, influencing how individuals process information and assign social meaning.
2Defining Authoritarian Mindsets
Authoritarianism involves a preference for conformity, submission to group leaders, and the punishment of norm violators. While traditionally linked to right-wing ideologies, it can manifest on the political left. Left-wing authoritarianism similarly demands conformity and silencing of ideological opponents, though it targets different power structures and utilizes distinct authority figures.
3Study Methodology and Sample
Researchers recruited 804 participants via an online platform, categorizing them into currently religious, formerly religious, and never-religious groups. The sample included 286 religious, 300 formerly religious, and 218 never-religious individuals. Participants completed standardized questionnaires measuring both right-wing and left-wing authoritarianism, while researchers controlled for political ideology and beliefs about deity existence.
4Shift in Ideological Targets
Results showed that currently religious individuals reported the highest levels of right-wing authoritarianism. Conversely, formerly religious participants exhibited the highest levels of left-wing authoritarianism. While these individuals discarded the conservative content of their former faith, they maintained the rigid, authoritarian style of belief, now directed toward new, secular political targets.
5Mechanisms of Psychological Change
The findings suggest a combination of religious residue and religious reactance. Reactance drives individuals to adopt beliefs opposing their former worldview, explaining the shift away from conservatism. Residue occurs when the underlying psychological style remains, causing individuals to demand conformity and punish dissenters within their new, secular ideological frameworks.
6Impact of Time Elapsed
The study analyzed how time spent away from religion affected authoritarian scores. Longer periods without religious identification correlated with lower right-wing authoritarianism. However, the duration of non-religious life was entirely unrelated to left-wing authoritarianism scores, suggesting that these specific authoritarian attitudes can be adopted rapidly following the departure from faith.
7Limitations of Cross-Sectional Design
This research relies on self-reported data collected at a single point in time, limiting causal conclusions. A longitudinal study tracking individuals over many years is necessary to confirm how right-wing authoritarianism converts into left-wing authoritarianism. Furthermore, the participants were exclusively based in the United States, potentially limiting the global applicability.
8Coping Mechanisms and Identity
Leaving a religion often results in a loss of community, meaning, and certainty. Researchers hypothesize that adopting strict, authoritarian political ideologies may serve as a coping mechanism. This shift helps individuals quickly replace the sense of security and group identity that their former religious environment once provided during their formative years.
Original article: PsyPost — Formerly Religious Individuals Exhibit High Left-Wing Authoritarianism