Free speech as a cultural value in the United States
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Alvarez, Mauricio J.
Kemmelmeier, Markus
Abstract / Description
Political orientation influences support for free speech, with liberals often reporting greater support for free speech than conservatives. We hypothesized that this effect should be moderated by cultural context: individualist cultures value individual self-expression and self-determination, and collectivist cultures value group harmony and conformity. These different foci should differently influence liberals and conservatives’ support for free speech within these cultures. Two studies evaluated the joint influence of political orientation and cultural context on support for free speech. Study 1, using a multilevel analysis of data from 37 U.S. states (n = 1,001), showed that conservatives report stronger support for free speech in collectivist states, whereas there were no differences between conservatives and liberals in support for free speech in individualist states. Study 2 (n = 90) confirmed this pattern by priming independent and interdependent self-construals in liberals and conservatives. Results demonstrate the importance of cultural context for free speech. Findings suggest that in the U.S. support for free speech might be embraced for different reasons: conservatives’ support for free speech appears to be motivated by a focus on collectively held values favoring free speech, while liberals’ support for free speech might be motivated by a focus on individualist self-expression.
Keyword(s)
free speech political attitudes political conservatism individualism collectivismPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2018-02-05
Journal title
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
Volume
5
Issue
2
Page numbers
707–735
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Alvarez, M. J., & Kemmelmeier, M. (2018). Free speech as a cultural value in the United States. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 5(2), 707–735. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v5i2.590
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Alvarez, Mauricio J.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Kemmelmeier, Markus
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-26T12:44:35Z
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Made available on2018-11-26T12:44:35Z
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Date of first publication2018-02-05
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Abstract / DescriptionPolitical orientation influences support for free speech, with liberals often reporting greater support for free speech than conservatives. We hypothesized that this effect should be moderated by cultural context: individualist cultures value individual self-expression and self-determination, and collectivist cultures value group harmony and conformity. These different foci should differently influence liberals and conservatives’ support for free speech within these cultures. Two studies evaluated the joint influence of political orientation and cultural context on support for free speech. Study 1, using a multilevel analysis of data from 37 U.S. states (n = 1,001), showed that conservatives report stronger support for free speech in collectivist states, whereas there were no differences between conservatives and liberals in support for free speech in individualist states. Study 2 (n = 90) confirmed this pattern by priming independent and interdependent self-construals in liberals and conservatives. Results demonstrate the importance of cultural context for free speech. Findings suggest that in the U.S. support for free speech might be embraced for different reasons: conservatives’ support for free speech appears to be motivated by a focus on collectively held values favoring free speech, while liberals’ support for free speech might be motivated by a focus on individualist self-expression.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationAlvarez, M. J., & Kemmelmeier, M. (2018). Free speech as a cultural value in the United States. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 5(2), 707–735. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v5i2.590en_US
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ISSN2195-3325
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1438
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1679
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v5i2.590
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Keyword(s)free speechen_US
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Keyword(s)political attitudesen_US
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Keyword(s)political conservatismen_US
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Keyword(s)individualismen_US
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Keyword(s)collectivismen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleFree speech as a cultural value in the United Statesen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue2
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Journal titleJournal of Social and Political Psychology
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Page numbers707–735
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Volume5
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record