Steffen Wamsler
Biographic Data
| ID | 4044242 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Steffen Wamsler |
| GIVEN NAMES | Steffen |
| FAMILY NAME | Wamsler |
| SIGNATURE | WAMSLER S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Bern |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1768-3226 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 84 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Crisis vulnerability and social stratification: Educational inequalities in political trust dynamics during the Covid-19 pandemic
Democracy and disadvantage: How subjective group relative deprivation undermines democratic support
Subjective group relative deprivation (SGRD) is a powerful driver of political protest and support for radical parties. Yet, we lack insights into whether such subjective perceptions of disadvantage attack the very core of democratic legitimacy, that is, citizens’ support for democracy. Against this backdrop, we investigate how SGRD relates to diffuse democratic support. We argue that perceptions of being systematically disadvantaged fuel disaffe…
Rally around your fellows: Information and social trust in a real-world experiment during the corona crisis
In this paper, we claim that information about social cohesion during a crisis influences social trust. We maintain that it is key to distinguish between positive and negative information about social cohesion during the crisis as well as between different forms of social trust, namely particularized trust, identity-based trust, and trust in strangers. Using a real-world survey experiment, we show that positive information on social cohesion has …
From rally to reality: Unveiling long-term dynamics in political trust over two years of Covid-19 in Germany
Crises like wars, terrorist attacks, and economic or health crises are frequently followed by profound changes in political trust. Whereas immediate external threats often induce a strong initial increase in political trust, the ‘rally-around-the-flag’ effect, prolonged crises are more detrimental to this core feature of political support. We extend previous research on political trust during extended crises by using the case of the global Covid-…
Violated entitlement and the nation: How feelings of relative deprivation shape nationalism and constructive patriotism
Perceptions of violated entitlement resulting from group-based relative deprivation shape attitudes and behaviors decisively. Drawing on social identity theory, I hypothesize that nationalism and constructive patriotism portray divergent relationships with subjective feelings of being disadvantaged due to different coping strategies to overcome status inferiority. Employing an original, large-scale survey from six European countries, the results …
Dimensions of social trust and national identity: Addressing a multifaceted relationship
Social trust is crucial for the functioning of societies and states as well as for the wellbeing of individuals. In this article, I expand on previous literature and scrutinise the role of definitions of group membership in the form of national belonging as a key predictor of three distinct dimensions of social trust: particularised trust, trust in strangers and identity‐based trust. Drawing on recent data from the European Values Study, I find t…
The pandemic and the question of national belonging: Exposure to covid‐19 threat and conceptions of nationhood
Drawing on the behavioural immune system hypothesis, we argue that the prevalence of the Covid‐19 pandemic threat in an individual's respective environment relates to exclusive, ethnic conceptions of nationhood. Referring to the affective intelligence theory, we maintain that specific negative emotions are prompted by the perception of being exposed to a pandemic threat, and these emotional states in turn structure political preferences regarding…
What drives political support? Evidence from a survey experiment at the onset of the corona crisis
In times of severe crises, citizens are frequently found to rally-'round-the-flag – i.e. to increase trust in their government. Drawing on an original survey experiment with real-world information at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we portray the saliency of rally-relevant issues of the crisis. Contrary to our expectation, this priming effect lowers governmental trust. Mediation analyses show that respondents are more trusting towards thei…
National identity and populism: The relationship between conceptions of nationhood and populist attitudes
Conventional wisdom argues that national identity and populism go hand in hand. We disentangle this relationship by examining how populist attitudes relate to two distinct conceptions of nationhood: civic and ethnic national identity. We argue that a civic conception of nationhood is negatively related to populism, while an ethnic conception of nationhood is positively related. Additionally, we expect these relationships to be moderated by socio‐…
The Emotional Foundations of Political Support: How Fear and Anger Affect Trust in the Government in Times of the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Crises like the current coronavirus pandemic evoke negative emotions in the general public. To date, however, little research has been conducted on the influence of these mental states on trust in the government – the uncontested key player in times of crises. Drawing on the appraisal and affective intelligence theories of emotions, we argue that fear and anger as the two crucial negative emotions in times of crises have divergent effects on trus…
National identity between democracy and autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of 24 Countries
Recognizing democratic backsliding and increasing support for authoritarianism, research on public preferences for democracy and its authoritarian alternatives has gained traction. Moving beyond the extant focus on economic determinants, our analysis examines the effect of national identity, demonstrating that it is a double-edged sword for regime preferences. Using recent European Values Survey data on 24 European countries from 2017 to 2018, we…
National identity between democracy and autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of 24 Countries
Recognizing democratic backsliding and increasing support for authoritarianism, research on public preferences for democracy and its authoritarian alternatives has gained traction. Moving beyond the extant focus on economic determinants, our analysis examines the effect of national identity, demonstrating that it is a double-edged sword for regime preferences. Using recent European Values Survey data on 24 European countries from 2017 to 2018, we…
The Emotional Foundations of Political Support: How Fear and Anger Affect Trust in the Government in Times of the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Crises like the current coronavirus pandemic evoke negative emotions in the general public. To date, however, little research has been conducted on the influence of these mental states on trust in the government – the uncontested key player in times of crises. Drawing on the appraisal and affective intelligence theories of emotions, we argue that fear and anger as the two crucial negative emotions in times of crises have divergent effects on trus…
National identity and populism: The relationship between conceptions of nationhood and populist attitudes
Conventional wisdom argues that national identity and populism go hand in hand. We disentangle this relationship by examining how populist attitudes relate to two distinct conceptions of nationhood: civic and ethnic national identity. We argue that a civic conception of nationhood is negatively related to populism, while an ethnic conception of nationhood is positively related. Additionally, we expect these relationships to be moderated by socio‐…
The pandemic and the question of national belonging: Exposure to covid‐19 threat and conceptions of nationhood
Drawing on the behavioural immune system hypothesis, we argue that the prevalence of the Covid‐19 pandemic threat in an individual's respective environment relates to exclusive, ethnic conceptions of nationhood. Referring to the affective intelligence theory, we maintain that specific negative emotions are prompted by the perception of being exposed to a pandemic threat, and these emotional states in turn structure political preferences regarding…
Violated entitlement and the nation: How feelings of relative deprivation shape nationalism and constructive patriotism
Perceptions of violated entitlement resulting from group-based relative deprivation shape attitudes and behaviors decisively. Drawing on social identity theory, I hypothesize that nationalism and constructive patriotism portray divergent relationships with subjective feelings of being disadvantaged due to different coping strategies to overcome status inferiority. Employing an original, large-scale survey from six European countries, the results …
Rally around your fellows: Information and social trust in a real-world experiment during the corona crisis
In this paper, we claim that information about social cohesion during a crisis influences social trust. We maintain that it is key to distinguish between positive and negative information about social cohesion during the crisis as well as between different forms of social trust, namely particularized trust, identity-based trust, and trust in strangers. Using a real-world survey experiment, we show that positive information on social cohesion has …
What drives political support? Evidence from a survey experiment at the onset of the corona crisis
In times of severe crises, citizens are frequently found to rally-'round-the-flag – i.e. to increase trust in their government. Drawing on an original survey experiment with real-world information at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we portray the saliency of rally-relevant issues of the crisis. Contrary to our expectation, this priming effect lowers governmental trust. Mediation analyses show that respondents are more trusting towards thei…
From rally to reality: Unveiling long-term dynamics in political trust over two years of Covid-19 in Germany
Crises like wars, terrorist attacks, and economic or health crises are frequently followed by profound changes in political trust. Whereas immediate external threats often induce a strong initial increase in political trust, the ‘rally-around-the-flag’ effect, prolonged crises are more detrimental to this core feature of political support. We extend previous research on political trust during extended crises by using the case of the global Covid-…
Dimensions of social trust and national identity: Addressing a multifaceted relationship
Social trust is crucial for the functioning of societies and states as well as for the wellbeing of individuals. In this article, I expand on previous literature and scrutinise the role of definitions of group membership in the form of national belonging as a key predictor of three distinct dimensions of social trust: particularised trust, trust in strangers and identity‐based trust. Drawing on recent data from the European Values Study, I find t…
National identity between democracy and autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of 24 Countries
Recognizing democratic backsliding and increasing support for authoritarianism, research on public preferences for democracy and its authoritarian alternatives has gained traction. Moving beyond the extant focus on economic determinants, our analysis examines the effect of national identity, demonstrating that it is a double-edged sword for regime preferences. Using recent European Values Survey data on 24 European countries from 2017 to 2018, we…
National identity and populism: The relationship between conceptions of nationhood and populist attitudes
Conventional wisdom argues that national identity and populism go hand in hand. We disentangle this relationship by examining how populist attitudes relate to two distinct conceptions of nationhood: civic and ethnic national identity. We argue that a civic conception of nationhood is negatively related to populism, while an ethnic conception of nationhood is positively related. Additionally, we expect these relationships to be moderated by socio‐…
The Emotional Foundations of Political Support: How Fear and Anger Affect Trust in the Government in Times of the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Crises like the current coronavirus pandemic evoke negative emotions in the general public. To date, however, little research has been conducted on the influence of these mental states on trust in the government – the uncontested key player in times of crises. Drawing on the appraisal and affective intelligence theories of emotions, we argue that fear and anger as the two crucial negative emotions in times of crises have divergent effects on trus…
What drives political support? Evidence from a survey experiment at the onset of the corona crisis
In times of severe crises, citizens are frequently found to rally-'round-the-flag – i.e. to increase trust in their government. Drawing on an original survey experiment with real-world information at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we portray the saliency of rally-relevant issues of the crisis. Contrary to our expectation, this priming effect lowers governmental trust. Mediation analyses show that respondents are more trusting towards thei…
Dimensions of social trust and national identity: Addressing a multifaceted relationship
Social trust is crucial for the functioning of societies and states as well as for the wellbeing of individuals. In this article, I expand on previous literature and scrutinise the role of definitions of group membership in the form of national belonging as a key predictor of three distinct dimensions of social trust: particularised trust, trust in strangers and identity‐based trust. Drawing on recent data from the European Values Study, I find t…
The pandemic and the question of national belonging: Exposure to covid‐19 threat and conceptions of nationhood
Drawing on the behavioural immune system hypothesis, we argue that the prevalence of the Covid‐19 pandemic threat in an individual's respective environment relates to exclusive, ethnic conceptions of nationhood. Referring to the affective intelligence theory, we maintain that specific negative emotions are prompted by the perception of being exposed to a pandemic threat, and these emotional states in turn structure political preferences regarding…
From rally to reality: Unveiling long-term dynamics in political trust over two years of Covid-19 in Germany
Crises like wars, terrorist attacks, and economic or health crises are frequently followed by profound changes in political trust. Whereas immediate external threats often induce a strong initial increase in political trust, the ‘rally-around-the-flag’ effect, prolonged crises are more detrimental to this core feature of political support. We extend previous research on political trust during extended crises by using the case of the global Covid-…
Violated entitlement and the nation: How feelings of relative deprivation shape nationalism and constructive patriotism
Perceptions of violated entitlement resulting from group-based relative deprivation shape attitudes and behaviors decisively. Drawing on social identity theory, I hypothesize that nationalism and constructive patriotism portray divergent relationships with subjective feelings of being disadvantaged due to different coping strategies to overcome status inferiority. Employing an original, large-scale survey from six European countries, the results …
Democracy and disadvantage: How subjective group relative deprivation undermines democratic support
Subjective group relative deprivation (SGRD) is a powerful driver of political protest and support for radical parties. Yet, we lack insights into whether such subjective perceptions of disadvantage attack the very core of democratic legitimacy, that is, citizens’ support for democracy. Against this backdrop, we investigate how SGRD relates to diffuse democratic support. We argue that perceptions of being systematically disadvantaged fuel disaffe…
Rally around your fellows: Information and social trust in a real-world experiment during the corona crisis
In this paper, we claim that information about social cohesion during a crisis influences social trust. We maintain that it is key to distinguish between positive and negative information about social cohesion during the crisis as well as between different forms of social trust, namely particularized trust, identity-based trust, and trust in strangers. Using a real-world survey experiment, we show that positive information on social cohesion has …
Crisis vulnerability and social stratification: Educational inequalities in political trust dynamics during the Covid-19 pandemic
Political science (9 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Law (7 works) · Politics (7 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Law (6 works) · Electoral Systems and Political Participation (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 (4 works)