On the Varieties of National Attachment: Blind Versus Constructive Patriotism

TLDR

Blind patriotism is an unquestioning attachment to one’s country, while constructive patriotism involves support for questioning and criticism aimed at positive change. Two studies explored a theoretical distinction between blind and constructive patriotism. Items probing these dimensions were administered to two undergraduate groups in separate surveys. Factor analysis confirmed reliable, valid measures, showing blind patriotism linked to disengagement, nationalism, threat perception, symbolic behavior importance, and selective pro‑U.S.

Abstract

Two studies explored a theoretical distinction between “blind” and “constructive” patriotism. Blind patriotism is defined as an attachment to country characterized by unquestioning positive evaluation, staunch allegiance, and intolerance of criticism. Constructive patriotism is defined as an attachment to country characterized by support for questioning and criticism of current group practices that are intended to result in positive change. Items designed to investigate these dimensions of national attachment were administered to two groups of undergraduates in separate surveys. Measures of the two constructs derived from factor analysis of the responses proved to be reliable and valid. Blind patriotism was positively associated with political disengagement, nationalism, perceptions of foreign threat, perceived importance of symbolic behaviors, and selective exposure to pro‐U.S. information. In contrast, constructive patriotism was positively associated with multiple indicators of political involvement, including political efficacy, interest, knowledge, and behavior. The implications of this distinction for theory and research on patriotism are discussed.