JPIB : Jurnal Psikologi Islam dan Budaya
Vol 9 No 1 (2026): JPIB : Jurnal Psikologi Islam dan Budaya

Religious Leaders and Moral Disengagement: An Examination of Followers' Authoritarian Attitudes

Wulandari, Roosalina (Unknown)
Arifin, Haykal Hafizul (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Apr 2026

Abstract

Religious leaders often hold revered positions and shape moral norms within their communities. However, obedience to such figures may become problematic when followers fail to question unethical behavior or the misuse of authority. This study investigates how dimensions of right-wing authoritarianism (submission, aggression, and conventionalism) and mechanisms of moral disengagement relate to perilous obedience toward religious authority. Drawing on data from 243 Indonesian participants across majority and minority religious groups, hierarchical regression analyses showed that authoritarian submission and moral disengagement - particularly advantageous comparison - were the strongest predictors of perilous obedience. Although authoritarian aggression initially predicted the outcome, its effect diminished once moral disengagement was entered into the model. Conventionalism, despite its theoretical importance, did not significantly predict obedience in this context. These findings highlight psychological factors associated with followers’ willingness to tolerate or justify the misuse of authority in religious settings.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jpib

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Social Sciences

Description

JPIB: Jurnal Psikologi Islam dan Budaya is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in Islamic and Cultural Psychology published by the Faculty of Psychology, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati. JPIB: Jurnal Psikologi Islam dan Budaya publishes empirical research with quantitative or qualitative approaches to ...