![Author ORCID: We display the ORCID iD icon alongside authors names on our website to acknowledge that the ORCiD has been authenticated when entered by the user. To view the users ORCiD record click the icon. [opens in a new tab]](https://preprints.apsanet.org/engage/assets/public/apsa/logo/orcid.png){kind=logo}
Abstract
Studies carried out at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed that under the impression of fear individuals were more willing to tolerate violations of liberal-democratic norms, and supported discriminatory policies to preserve public safety. But what are the potential consequences of the pandemic on citizens’ attitudes beyond its peak? We conducted an original experiment in which we manipulate individuals’ cognitive accessibility of their fears related to COVID-19 one and a half years after the onset of the pandemic. We fielded the experiment in Hungary and Romania–two cases most likely to see such attitudes amplify under the condition of fear. Our intervention was successful in elevating respondents’ levels of worry, anxiety, and fear when thinking about infectious diseases like COVID-19. However, these emotions did not affect individuals’ levels of rightwing authoritarianism, nationalism, or outgroup hostility, or their preferences for specific discriminatory policies aimed to fight a potential resurgence of COVID-19.
Version notes
This version of the article resulted from the peer review process. The study has now been accepted for publication by the European Journal of Political Research. We are grateful to the editors and the three anonymous reviewers for their comments and feedback.
Content
Supplementary weblinks
Pre - analysis plan: 'COVID-19 anxieties in Eastern Europe and civic attitudes'
This preregistered pre-analysis plans contains our study information (including the sampling plan and data collection procedures), our hypotheses, design plan (including the survey questions in English, Romanian and Hungarian), and our analysis plan.