Institut für Psychologie

A Mixed-Methods Study on Out-Group Hostility and Religiosity Among Muslims in German Youth Prisons

2025-11-07T07:31:43Z

A Mixed-Methods Study on Out-Group Hostility and Religiosity Among Muslims in German Youth Prisons Bergmann, Barbara; Lutz, Paulina; Steinmann, Jan-Philip This article addresses the perceived religious discrimination and lack of religious opportunity structure among imprisoned young Muslims and how these religion-related prison experiences affect their out-group hostility. Furthermore, it examines whether the link between these experiences and out-group hostility depends on religiosity. Building on general strain theory, religion-related prison experiences are conceptualized as events potentially leading to out-group hostility. The coping literature is used to identify different dimensions of religiosity that can either strengthen or weaken the relationship of interest. Data from german youth prisons were analyzed. Qualitative findings (N = 22) indicate imprisoned Muslims experience disadvantages in practicing their religion but feel grateful rather than discriminated against. Quantitative results (N = 311) show perceived religious discrimination is positively linked to out-group hostility, while lack of religious opportunity structure is not. Religiosity did not moderate the association between perceived religious discrimination and out-group hostility.

Religious coping or coping with religion?

2025-05-05T16:17:18Z

Religious coping or coping with religion? Bergmann, Barbara; Lutz, Paulina; Bartsch, Tillmann; Stelly, Wolfgang Prisoners’ religiosity can be a helpful resource for a successful reintegration into society. Yet, the Christian-focused institutional concepts do not meet the religious needs of Muslims. We assumed that Muslim inmates would find strategies to deal with this lack of religious opportunity structure and postulated that the association between religious practice and belief would change over time. We chose a multi-method approach and collected data of 766 Christian and Muslim inmates from four different youth prisons on religious belief and practice via questionnaires and interviews. Qualitative data illustrates how Muslim inmates experience inequality when it comes to practicing their religion. Religious practice and time served was found to predict religious belief. Time served moderated the association between religious belief and practice. Steeper slopes for Muslims with longer time spent in prison indicated two different coping styles: ‘engage’ and ‘retreat’. However, inmates favored ‘retreat’ over ‘engage’. Further research on Muslims’ religious coping mechanisms is needed to build an understanding of religiosity as a resource during and after incarceration.

Improving assessment center criterion validity for salesperson selection

2023-02-08T09:48:06Z

Improving assessment center criterion validity for salesperson selection Kückelhaus, Bastian P.; Titze, Julia L.; Blickle, Gerhard Assessment centers (ACs) are one of the most common selection and recruitment methods in today’s business world, with very high acceptance in practice. The AC research literature, however, has focused on managerial performance and neglected sales performance. Therefore, we assessed the features of ACs for sales positions. The results indicated that AC ratings designed for sales positions exhibited good interrater agreement and were distinct. The criterion-related validity of AC observer ratings was in the normal range of ACs designed for managerial jobs in terms of overall assessment rating scores. Additionally, we tested a new approach to ACs for salesperson selection based on the socioanalytic theory of personality. We hypothesized and found that motivation for sales success combined with social competence predicts field sales performance one year later. This interaction effect explained incremental variance in objective performance above and beyond exercises and overall assessment rating scores. Operational validity compared to the traditional approach increased by 25%. The true score criterion validity of the new approach was .49. We discuss implications and limitations.