Things will get better: Führt der Optimismus in den Erfolg von Steuerreformen zu weniger Widerstand, mehr Vertrauen und einer positiveren Einstellung?

Translated title of the contribution: Things will get better: Does the Optimism that Current Problems can be Solves through a Tax Reform Induce Less Resistance, more Trut, and a more Positive Attitude?

Eva Traut-Mattausch, Eva Jonas, Christian Schwennen, Claudia Peus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

The study at hand scrutinizes the effectiveness of an intervention which meant to lead citizens to greater acceptance and cooperative behavior towards tax reforms. It is evident that optimism communicated through politics that current problems can be solved through a reform, enables a more positive attitude, less resistance towards the procedures, more trust in the implementer and strategy, as well as reduced anxiety about excessive demands and loss. Furthermore, the mediating process underlying the positive effects of the optimism intervention has been clarified. In terms of a compensational control strategy, the citizens become a sense of subjective control, reducing the threat of a reform (in the form of psychological reactance) considerably. As a result, citizens show greater acceptance and cooperation. The results are discussed in regard to the current leadership research as well as the possibility of generalization in other contexts - for example change management within businesses.
Translated title of the contributionThings will get better: Does the Optimism that Current Problems can be Solves through a Tax Reform Induce Less Resistance, more Trut, and a more Positive Attitude?
Original languageGerman
Pages (from-to)43-52
Number of pages10
JournalWirtschaftspsychologie
Volume2011
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Keywords

  • optimism
  • reactance
  • attitudes
  • resistance to change
  • political reform

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

  • 501 Psychology

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