Bystander Effect and Religious Group Affiliation: Terrorism and the Diffusion of Responsibility PDF
Preview Bystander Effect and Religious Group Affiliation: Terrorism and the Diffusion of Responsibility
Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2014 Bystander Effect and Religious Group Affiliation: Terrorism and the Diffusion of Responsibility Thomas Schillinger Walden University Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of thePeace and Conflict Studies Commons,Psychology Commons, and theReligion Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Thomas Schillinger has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Anne Hacker, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Mi Young Lee, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Kathleen Schulin, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2014 Abstract Bystander Effect and Religious Group Affiliation: Terrorism and the Diffusion of Responsibility by Thomas Schillinger MJA, Norwich University, 2008 BS, State University of New York, Empire State College, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University November 2014 Abstract The collective nature of group affiliation may inhibit an individual from exhibiting prosocial behavior regarding acts of religiously-motivated terror. This study’s purpose was to investigate the nature of bystander intervention as it relates to religious group affiliation. Darley and Latane’s bystander effect theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions examined the impact of religious group affiliation and group size on the dependent variables of civic moral disengagement (CMD) and commitment to the war on terror (CWT). Three validated survey instruments were administered to a random participant pool of 206 respondents. An ANCOVA and Spearman’s rho correlation were employed to address the research questions. Findings revealed that neither religious group affiliation nor group size significantly predicts either CWT or CMD after controlling for the degree of religious commitment. Further research should test alternative theories associated with leadership and group dynamics. Positive social change is advanced by acknowledging that bystanders to acts of terrorism may not be influenced by factors such as group affiliation or size of religious group affiliations. These findings underscore the complexity of the relationship between behavior and religious affiliation. Policy makers and future researchers may benefit by redirecting their focus for prevention and intervention toward influences such as the motivational dynamic between religious leaders and their followers. Bystander Effect and Religious Group Affiliation: Terrorism and the Diffusion of Responsibility by Thomas Schillinger MJA, Norwich University, 2008 BS, State University of New York, Empire State College, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University November 2014 Dedication This is dedicated to my wife and best friend Tammy. Without you none of this would have been possible. Acknowledgments Throughout this process there have been many people that have provided encouragement and support. On the academic side I would like to express the greatest of appreciation to Dr. Anne Hacker. She has been an immense help in many ways and I could not have chosen a better chair for my committee. I would also like to thank both Dr. Mi Young Lee and Dr. Kathleen Schulin for their support and guidance throughout this process. I cannot express the importance of family enough in making this a reality. My parents, Thomas and Joan Schillinger have played an important role in keeping me motivated. Their curiosity, excitement and an occasional bottle of Merlot have given me the ambition needed to complete this work. My wife Tammy has instilled and fostered in me the appreciation of higher education. My daughter Olana deserves special thanks. She is the smartest woman I have ever known. Her love of learning and her excitement for life has taught me that life is more wonderful then I could have ever dreamed. She has sat with me throughout my studies and has been my greatest inspiration. This dissertation is as much theirs as it is mine. Table of Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................... 3 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................ 4 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5 Research Questions and Hypothesis ............................................................................. 8 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................... 12 Nature of the Study ..................................................................................................... 13 Operational Definitions ............................................................................................... 15 Assumptions ................................................................................................................ 18 Scope and Delimitations ............................................................................................. 19 Limitations .................................................................................................................. 20 Significance ................................................................................................................. 21 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 26 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 26 Literature Search Strategy ........................................................................................... 31 Terrorism and the Abrahamic Traditions .................................................................... 33 Contemporary Use of Religiously Motivated Terror ............................................ 37 i Group Conflict ............................................................................................................ 43 Religious Group Conflict ...................................................................................... 48 Group Dynamics ......................................................................................................... 52 Bystander Effect .......................................................................................................... 59 Development of Bystander Effect Theory .................................................................. 60 Bystander Groups .................................................................................................. 63 Inhibiting Factors .................................................................................................. 64 Perpetrators Affirmation ....................................................................................... 67 Active and Passive Bystander Intervention .......................................................... 68 Bystander Intervention and Flight 93 ......................................................................... 70 Survey Instruments ..................................................................................................... 71 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 3: Research Method ............................................................................................. 77 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 77 Research Design and Rationale .................................................................................. 78 Methodology ............................................................................................................... 80 Population ............................................................................................................. 80 Sampling and Sampling Procedures ..................................................................... 82 Recruitment of Participants ................................................................................... 83 Instrumentation and Organization of Constructs .................................................. 84 Threats to Validity ................................................................................................ 92 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................................... 93 ii Summary ..................................................................................................................... 94 Chapter 4: Research Findings ........................................................................................... 96 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 96 Data Collection ........................................................................................................... 97 Results of the Study .................................................................................................... 99 Research Question 1 ........................................................................................... 103 Research Question 2 ........................................................................................... 105 Research Question 3 ........................................................................................... 107 Research Question 4 ........................................................................................... 108 Summary ................................................................................................................... 109 Research Question 1 ........................................................................................... 109 Research Question 2 ........................................................................................... 109 Research Question 3 ........................................................................................... 109 Research Question 4 ........................................................................................... 110 Summary ................................................................................................................... 110 Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................ 111 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 111 Interpretations of Findings ........................................................................................ 113 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................................ 114 Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 115 Implications ............................................................................................................... 116 Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 117 iii
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