Powerlessness co-occurs with detrimental societal phenomena such as heightened conspiracy beliefs and perceived ingroup homogeneity and commitment, as well as increased conviction about one’s own opinions and worldviews. In four studies, we tested whether a causal relationship between these phenomena and powerlessness exists. Furthermore, we suggested and examined a possible motivational mechanism that would explain this relationship.
In detail, we propose that the presence of powerlessness constitutes an aversive state that first triggers the behavioral inhibition system (BIS). In line with the General Process Model of Threat and Defense (GPMTD, Jonas et al., 2014), the BIS then causes the emergence of threat defenses which are capable of palliatively lowering BIS activation while reinstating the behavioral activation system (BAS). According to the GPMTD, these threat defenses should entail the phenomena shown to be associated with powerlessness (e.g., conspiracy beliefs, ingroup homogeneity, etc.)
To test these hypotheses, one correlational and three experimental and preregistered studies were conducted. Results confirmed the hypothesized direct link between powerlessness and BIS activation as well as the indirect link between powerlessness and threat defenses via BIS activation. Contrary to predictions, though, no direct link between powerlessness and threat defenses emerged.
The present research sheds light on the consequences of the understudied state of powerlessness. It furthermore suggests a motivational mechanism explaining why powerlessness can lead to these consequences.