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Previous studies comparing ideological groups have been restricted to tests of between-group differences in the means of relevant political psychological variables, thereby neglecting group differences in the variances, meanings and nomological networks of the tested variables. A first exploratory study used data from the European Social Survey (N=7,314) comparing groups of political party members on the basis of their scores on a self-placement left-right scale. The second study (N=69) constituted an in-depth test for the presence of differences between samples of political activists of moderate parties, communists, anarchists and right-wing extremists. The results revealed that there is a fair amount of heterogeneity within left-wing and right-wing extremists, indicating a substantial amount of within-group variance of social attitudes, values and prejudice. Moreover, the extremist ideologies are best approached as distinct ideologies that cannot be reduced to extreme versions of moderate ideology, and differences in the meanings and nomological networks of the various extremist ideologies were also obtained. It is erroneous to consider members of extremist groups as being "all alike". The findings obtained from samples of political moderates are not a particularly solid basis for theories about extremism. Adapted from the source document.

AbstractPrevious studies comparing ideological groups have been restricted to tests of between‐group differences in the means of relevant political psychological variables, thereby neglecting group differences in the variances, meanings and nomological networks of the tested variables. A first exploratory study used data from the European Social Survey (N = 7,314) comparing groups of political party members on the basis of their scores on a self‐placement left–right scale. The second study (N = 69) constituted an in‐depth test for the presence of differences between samples of political activists of moderate parties, communists, anarchists and right‐wing extremists. The results revealed that there is a fair amount of heterogeneity within left‐wing and right‐wing extremists, indicating a substantial amount of within‐group variance of social attitudes, values and prejudice. Moreover, the extremist ideologies are best approached as distinct ideologies that cannot be reduced to extreme versions of moderate ideology, and differences in the meanings and nomological networks of the various extremist ideologies were also obtained. It is erroneous to consider members of extremist groups as being 'all alike'. The findings obtained from samples of political moderates are not a particularly solid basis for theories about extremism.

The joint impact of antiegalitarian attitudes and social‐cultural attitudes on citizens' tendency to vote for extreme right‐wing political parties was investigated. In the first study, we explored these attitudes in representative samples of seven Western European countries. In a follow‐up study, we predicted respondents' likelihood of voting for a Dutch right‐wing party on the basis of the measures of social‐dominance orientation (as an indicator of antiegalitarian attitudes) and right‐wing authoritarianism (as an indicator of social‐cultural attitudes). Our findings demonstrated that voting for extreme right‐wing parties was associated more consistently with antiegalitarian attitudes than with social‐cultural attitudes. Moreover, the effect of antiegalitarian attitudes was partly mediated by migration attitudes (Study 1) and ethnic prejudice (Study 2). We discuss the finding that antiegalitarian attitudes are more strongly related to extreme right‐wing voting than social‐cultural attitudes.

Objective: The present research tests the effects of time pressure and noise on openmindedness to discover new problem-solving strategies. Background: We are primarily interested in transfer of skill from one phase to the next. More specifically, this study investigates whether the presence of stressors makes participants adhere to the sustained use of complex rules. Method: Participants learned to apply a complex rule in the first phase of a category learning task. In the second phase, this rule became dysfunctional and participants had to search for a new categorization rule in order to assign the stimuli to the correct classes. Two experiments were set up to investigate this issue. Results: Participants were found to have difficulty discovering a complex Phase 2 rule in the presence of stressors, whereas the discovery of a simple rule was not hindered by the presence of stressors. Conclusion: In the discussion, it is argued that the present results are compatible with previous research on stressors showing that time pressure and noise induce the application of simple strategies. The innovative finding here is that this simplification also occurs in individuals who are accustomed to using complex solutions. Application: The implications of the present results for emergency response training are elaborated upon.

Three studies tested the relationship between political extremism and cognitive complexity in an adult sample (N = 135), a sample of students (N = 145), and a sample of political party members (N = 47). According to value pluralism theory, advocates of extreme ideologies exhibit low levels of cognitive complexity. Context theory, in contrast, states that extremists think in a more complex and sophisticated way about politics. In accordance with context theory, significant positive correlations between cognitive complexity and extremist ideology were found in all samples. The results of these studies also revealed weak correlations among the cognitive complexity instruments used in previous research. Problems concerning the measurement of cognitive style and cognitive complexity are discussed.

The present research investigates whether prospective minority and majority members exhibit information acquisition bias to exert social influence in a forthcoming group interaction. In particular, the question of whether (a) the mere fact of attending to a forthcoming group discussion and (b) group decision rule (majority rule vs. unanimity rule) alter the orientation toward supporting evidence is investigated. This study found that minorities exhibit greater information acquisition bias than equal and majority factions, especially when the minorities expected a group interaction. Group decision rule did not have any significant effect. The absence of effects of group decision rule and the relationship between coalition formation and cognitive processes are discussed.

Three studies tested the relationship between political extremism & cognitive complexity in an adult sample (N = 135), a sample of students (N = 145), & a sample of political party members (N = 47). According to value pluralism theory, advocates of extreme ideologies exhibit low levels of cognitive complexity. Context theory, in contrast, states that extremists think in a more complex & sophisticated way about politics. In accordance with context theory, significant positive correlations between cognitive complexity & extremist ideology were found in all samples. The results of these studies also revealed weak correlations among the cognitive complexity instruments used in previous research. Problems concerning the measurement of cognitive style & cognitive complexity are discussed. 4 Tables, 2 Appendixes, 50 References. Adapted from the source document.

Three studies tested the relationship between political extremism and cognitive complexity in an adult sample (N = 135), a sample of students (N = 145), and a sample of political party members (N = 47). According to value pluralism theory, advocates of extreme ideologies exhibit low levels of cognitive complexity. Context theory, in contrast, states that extremists think in a more complex and sophisticated way about politics. In accordance with context theory, significant positive correlations between cognitive complexity and extremist ideology were found in all samples. The results of these studies also revealed weak correlations among the cognitive complexity instruments used in previous research. Problems concerning the measurement of cognitive style and cognitive complexity are discussed. (Original abstract)

The present study examines the effects of two conditions on the information flow during unstructured discussion in small groups. The experimental work of Stasser and colleagues on information sampling was our starting point. The results of their research suggest that groups often fail in effective information exchange. An experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial design was set up to look for conditions that could facilitate the exchange of unshared information. Video-recorded group discussions were analyzed on the mentioning of items during discussion. The reactions to and repetition of items were also studied. The researchers introduced partially shared information and made group members aware of the unique information that they could contribute. A significant increase in the dissemination of unshared information was found under these conditions. An empirical basis was laid so that guidelines for effective information sampling by Stasser could be reformulated.

A sample of 328 subjects completed a questionnaire measuring various political beliefs. Part of the sample also filled in the Dutch NEO-FFI personality inventory. The aims of this study are as follows: (1) to determine the dimensional structure of current political beliefs and (2) to examine the relationship between the dimensions of political beliefs and personality. Factor analysis of the 126 political items reveals four factors referring to general conservatism, humanitarian military interventions, fairness of taxation and general social welfare. Joint factor analysis indicates relationships between personality and political beliefs similar to those reported by Riemann, Grubich, Hempel, Mergl and Richter 1993.