Bock Jarrod E, Daruwala Samantha E, Tucker Raymond P, Foster Stephen D, Bandel Shelby L, Gunn John F, Anestis Michael D
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Psychol Rep. 2025 Feb;128(1):240-266. doi: 10.1177/00332941241255323. Epub 2024 May 27.
The surge in firearm sales from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been linked to increases in firearm violence, which is of public concern given that having firearms in one's home is associated with increased risk for domestic violence and suicide. Consistent with pre-pandemic trends, individuals tended to purchase firearms for self-protection during COVID-19. Prior work indicates that protective firearm ownership is motivated not only by perceptions that the world (and one's local environment) is dangerous, but also by one's endorsement of masculinity norms found in U.S. cultures of honor (primarily southern and western states). Honor-based masculinity norms emphasis reputation defense, toughness, and an absolute intolerance of disrespect. The present research examined the relative motivating influences of various threat perceptions and masculine honor endorsement in predicting reasons for non-COVID-19 firearm ownership, firearm purchasing during COVID-19, and purchase intentions. Three separate samples (total = 2483) of mostly White U.S. men completed online surveys during different months of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed measures of their endorsement of masculine honor norms, factors associated with firearm purchasing (e.g., dangerous world beliefs, intolerance of uncertainty), and firearm purchasing behaviors. Results indicated that masculine honor endorsement was higher among (1) protective firearm owners compared to non-owners and non-protective owners, (2) firearm owners who purchased a firearm during COVID-19 compared to non-owners and non-purchasing owners, and (3) firearm owners with intentions to purchase firearms in the next year compared to those without intentions and undecided owners. Relative to other predictors (e.g., COVID-19 concerns, dangerous world beliefs), masculine honor endorsement was consistently the strongest predictor of these outcomes. Findings add to the literature by highlighting the strength of masculine honor endorsement in motivating (protective) firearm ownership. Implications for interpersonal violence and suicide are discussed.
自新冠疫情爆发以来，枪支销量激增，这与枪支暴力事件的增加有关，鉴于家中持有枪支与家庭暴力和自杀风险的上升相关，这一现象引发了公众的关注。与疫情前的趋势一致，在新冠疫情期间，人们倾向于购买枪支用于自我保护。先前的研究表明，持有保护性枪支不仅是因为人们认为世界（以及当地环境）危险，还因为人们认同美国荣誉文化（主要是南部和西部各州）中的男性气质规范。基于荣誉的男性气质规范强调声誉维护、坚韧以及对不尊重的绝对不容忍。本研究考察了各种威胁认知和男性荣誉认同在预测非新冠疫情期间枪支持有原因、新冠疫情期间枪支购买行为以及购买意愿方面的相对激励影响。在新冠疫情大流行第一年的不同月份，三个主要由美国白人男性组成的独立样本（共2483人）完成了在线调查。参与者完成了对其男性荣誉规范认同度、与枪支购买相关因素（如认为世界危险、对不确定性的不容忍）以及枪支购买行为的测量。结果表明，在以下几类人群中，男性荣誉认同度更高：（1）与非枪支所有者和非保护性枪支所有者相比，持有保护性枪支的人；（2）与非所有者和未在新冠疫情期间购买枪支的所有者相比，在新冠疫情期间购买了枪支 的枪支所有者；（3）与无购买意愿者和未决定是否购买者相比，打算在明年购买枪支的枪支所有者。相对于其他预测因素（如对新冠疫情的担忧、认为世界危险），男性荣誉认同始终是这些结果的最强预测因素。研究结果通过强调男性荣誉认同在激励（保护性）枪支持有方面的强度，为相关文献增添了内容。同时还讨论了该研究结果对人际暴力和自杀的影响。
