The Role of Religion in Social and Democratic System Justification

The Case of Italian Catholicism

Authors

  • Filippo Rutto University of Turin
  • Erica Viola University of Turin
  • Maria Grazia Monaci University of Valle d’Aosta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.20358

Keywords:

Religiosity, Scriptural Literalism, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Religious Orientation, Italian Catholicism, system and democratic system justification

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to explore, within the Italian Catholic context, the impact of scriptural literalism and religious orientation on the ideologies that legitimate the social and the democratic system. A sample of Catholic participants completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire concerning: a) scriptural literalism; b) intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation; c) social and democratic system justification. Results show that scriptural literalism affects both intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation, with extrinsic, but not intrinsic orientation tending to increase both social and democratic system justification. These results extend previous findings on the relationship between religion and the legitimisation of the social system. Possible implications for increasing social fairness in the future, filling the gap between religious precepts and an unconditional acceptance of social order, are also discussed.

Author Biographies

  • Filippo Rutto, University of Turin

    Filippo Rutto is a clinical psychologist with a PhD in Psychological, Anthropological and Educational Sciences from the University of Turin. His current research interests focus on intergroup attitudes, system justification and health psychology.

  • Erica Viola, University of Turin

    Erica Viola is a clinical psychologist with a PhD in Psychological, Anthropological and Educational Sciences from the University of Turin. Her research interests address intergroup attitudes—particularly ethnic prejudice and sexism, health promotion and the impact of public health interventions.

  • Maria Grazia Monaci, University of Valle d’Aosta

    Maria Grazia Monaci is a professor at the University of Valle d’Aosta (Italy) where she teaches Social Psychology and Psychology of Emotion. Her current research interests focus on the area of development of prejudice in children, prejudice and emotions in intergroup relationships, regulation of emotions, health promotion and risk behaviours.

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Published

2021-07-07

How to Cite

Rutto, F. ., Viola, E. ., & Monaci, M. G. . (2021). The Role of Religion in Social and Democratic System Justification: The Case of Italian Catholicism. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 34(1), 52–73. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.20358