Common threats promote patriotism: The role of perceived resource scarcity and socioeconomic status

Humanity is currently confronted with numerous common threats such as pandemics, environmental pollution, and economic crises. Will these common threats affect the public’s attitudes towards their country? Three studies ( N = 955) explored the impact of common threats on patriotism. Results showed that only under conditions of high perceived resource scarcity does a common threat promote patriotism. In contrast, under conditions of low perceived resource scarcity, a common threat did not significantly influence patriotism. The role of socioeconomic status was also examined. The results indicated that under conditions of high perceived resource scarcity, individuals of low socioeconomic status, compared with those of high socioeconomic status, exhibited stronger patriotism when facing common threats. This finding provides a reference for uniting hearts and minds as well as for the effective crisis response of the state.