Honor Endorsement and Increased Firearm Purchasing Behavior and Intentions During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Datos Bibliográficos

ID13676498
AutoresJarrod E Bock (0009-0003-6022-441X, Oklahoma State University, autor de correspondencia), Samantha E Daruwala (0000-0001-7094-0725, The Ohio State University), Raymond P Tucker (0000-0001-9256-6113, Louisiana State University), Foster (0000-0002-6014-4415, Pennsylvania State University), Stephen D Foster (Department of Psychology, Penn State York, York, PA, USA), Shelby L Bandel (0000-0003-0880-7653, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), John F Gunn (0000-0002-8584-4960, New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, New Brunswick, NJ, USA), Michael D Anestis (0000-0001-8738-8877, New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, New Brunswick, NJ, USA)
Año2024
Volumen128
Número1
Páginas240-266
Fecha de publicación2024-05-27
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00332941241255323
PMID38802302
OpenAlexW4399100081
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas79

The surge in firearm sales from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been linked to increases in firearm violence, which is of public concern given that having firearms in one's home is associated with increased risk for domestic violence and suicide. Consistent with pre-pandemic trends, individuals tended to purchase firearms for self-protection during COVID-19. Prior work indicates that protective firearm ownership is motivated not only by perceptions that the world (and one's local environment) is dangerous, but also by one's endorsement of masculinity norms found in U.S. cultures of honor (primarily southern and western states). Honor-based masculinity norms emphasis reputation defense, toughness, and an absolute intolerance of disrespect. The present research examined the relative motivating influences of various threat perceptions and masculine honor endorsement in predicting reasons for non-COVID-19 firearm ownership, firearm purchasing during COVID-19, and purchase intentions. Three separate samples (total N = 2483) of mostly White U.S. men completed online surveys during different months of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed measures of their endorsement of masculine honor norms, factors associated with firearm purchasing (e.g., dangerous world beliefs, intolerance of uncertainty), and firearm purchasing behaviors. Results indicated that masculine honor endorsement was higher among (1) protective firearm owners compared to non-owners and non-protective owners, (2) firearm owners who purchased a firearm during COVID-19 compared to non-owners and non-purchasing owners, and (3) firearm owners with intentions to purchase firearms in the next year compared to those without intentions and undecided owners. Relative to other predictors (e.g., COVID-19 concerns, dangerous world beliefs), masculine honor endorsement was consistently the strongest predictor of these outcomes. Findings add to the literature by highlighting the strength of masculine honor endorsement in motivating (protective) firearm ownership. Implications for interpersonal violence and suicide are discussed

Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Criminology · Environmental health · Honor · Internet privacy · Masculinity · Pandemic · Poison control · Political science · Purchasing · Reputation · Suicide prevention · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Law · Marketing · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence