Cognitive Model of the Causal Explanation ofAnti-Semitism

The subjectively written content of the NewTestament have long been academically thought asone source responsible for the historical persecutionof Jews. Theological judeophobia is a cornerstoneof the models explaining anti-Semitism. However,recent history (and thepresent) involves the very differently evolvedpolitical anti-Semitism. If trying to explaincontemporaryprejudices and perception of Jewry, politicalanti-Semitism should be as important a factor as thetheological one. The causalexplanatory models discussed here are models whichusestatistical methods to analyze thecontribution of different sources onto a finalphenomena, in this case anti-Semitism. Since theexistingmodels reviewed (including cognitive models) do notcontain the political factor, the most relevant modelis modified toaccommodate political anti-Semitism into it'sstructure. The statistical analysis isbased on a previously done, large Hungarianempirical survey project of anti-Semitism. The studyconcludes, that models including both source ofanti-Jewish sentiments are superior in explainingcontemporary anti-Semitism.

Autorentext

The author has a background in cognitive and social psychology,
but also learned Jewish studies at the U.S. accredited Central
European University, Budapest.

Klappentext

The subjectively written content of the New
Testament have long been academically thought as
one source responsible for the historical persecution
of Jews. Theological judeophobia is a cornerstone
of the models explaining anti-Semitism. However,
recent history (and the
present) involves the very differently evolved
political anti-Semitism. If trying to explain
contemporary
prejudices and perception of Jewry, political
anti-Semitism should be as important a factor as the
theological one. The causal
explanatory models discussed here are models which
use
statistical methods to analyze the
contribution of different sources onto a final
phenomena, in this case anti-Semitism. Since the
existing
models reviewed (including cognitive models) do not
contain the political factor, the most relevant model
is modified to
accommodate political anti-Semitism into it's
structure. The statistical analysis is
based on a previously done, large Hungarian
empirical survey project of anti-Semitism. The study
concludes, that models including both source of
anti-Jewish sentiments are superior in explaining
contemporary anti-Semitism.