New Dual-Threat Model Explains Antisemitism Across the Political Spectrum

Research highlights two contradictions in antisemitic prejudice. First, while powerful groups are typically respected, Jews are perceived as powerful yet elicit hostility. Second, antisemitism appears among individuals with opposing worldviews: those who champion social hierarchies and those who pursue egalitarian societies. These paradoxes prompted a new psychological investigation.

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The authors propose the “dual-threat model,” which posits that the central driver of modern antisemitic attitudes is the perception that Jews wield excessive societal power. This perception generates distinct psychological threats: hierarchy-supporters feel their group’s dominance is challenged, whereas anti-hierarchy advocates view Jewish influence as an obstacle to total equality. Both threat perceptions, in turn, predict stronger antisemitic attitudes.

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The study, titled “The Perils of Perceived Power: The Dual-Threat Model of Antisemitism,” was authored by Britt Hadar, Nir Halevy, Taya R. Cohen, Evan P. Apfelbaum, and Lauren Chan, and published in *American Psychologist*. Hadar, an assistant professor at Reichman University, noted that the research emerged after hearing historian Christopher Clark discuss the link between Jewish assimilation and intensified antisemitism.

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A final sample of 1,765 adults from six countries—the United States, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland—completed an online survey. Participants rated statements on perceived Jewish power (e.g., control over global affairs), threat to in-group dominance, threat to egalitarian ideals, social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, left-wing authoritarianism, and antisemitic attitudes. The same items were administered regarding Asian people to test the model’s broader applicability.

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Statistical analysis confirmed that higher perceived Jewish power strongly predicted both threat types, which in turn robustly predicted antisemitic attitudes across the sample. Among respondents endorsing hierarchical societies, perceived Jewish power amplified threats to group dominance; among anti-hierarchical respondents, it amplified threats to egalitarianism. Comparative data showed Jews were viewed as significantly more powerful and malevolent than Asians, and the model explained a larger portion of variance in antisemitism than in anti-Asian prejudice.

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The authors argue that generic bias-reduction programs may miss the ideological nuances uncovered by the model. Effective strategies should address the specific threat perceived by each political group—countering dominance-related fears for hierarchy supporters and dispelling equality-related misconceptions for egalitarians.

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The research team emphasizes that the dual-threat model clarifies why antisemitism spans the ideological spectrum and underscores the need for differentiated educational approaches. They also note that the perception of Jewish power is rooted in longstanding conspiracy narratives rather than demographic realities.

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The study’s scope is limited to six Western democracies, leaving its applicability to other regions untested. Additionally, the model accounts for antisemitism more comprehensively than for anti-Asian prejudice, suggesting group-specific dynamics that require further investigation. No direct criticisms of the model appear in the source material.

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• “Although I’m Jewish and study hierarchy, I was never particularly interested in antisemitism as a research topic,” — Britt Hadar, Assistant Professor, Reichman University

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• “He made an observation that really stayed with me: antisemitism often intensifies when Jews are highly assimilated, integrated into society, and occupy visible positions of influence and power,” — Britt Hadar

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• “Antisemitism is often tied to the perception that Jews are powerful, influential, or in control,” — Britt Hadar

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• “Because both Jews and Asian people are often stereotyped as ‘successful,’ we also examined whether the model could explain anti-Asian prejudice,” — Britt Hadar

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Future work will test tailored intervention designs derived from the dual-threat framework, expand sampling to non-Western contexts, and explore whether analogous threat mechanisms operate for other high-status minority groups.

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