Speaking Progress, Feeling Threat: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Systemic Progressive Social Change

Speaking Progress, Feeling Threat: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Systemic Progressive Social Change | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 14 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Speaking Progress, Feeling Threat: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Systemic Progressive Social Change Authors : Marty Colombo 0000-0002-1695-6985 [email protected] , Maaike Homan , Daan Scheepers 0000-0001-6691-7426 , and Félice van Nunspeet Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176839211.13481627/v1 134 views 68 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Progressive values are substantially endorsed across Western Europe, yet concrete engagement with systemic social change remains limited. This gap raises questions about the motivational and physiological processes that may underlie ambivalence toward progressive action. Drawing on the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat (BPS-CT), the present study examined whether progressive systemic change elicit cardiovascular threat responses even among progressive individuals who verbally support such change. Ninety Western European university students participated in a within-subjects laboratory study in which they discussed the university’s current collaborations (status quo condition) followed by implementing an academic boycott targeting unethical institutional collaborations (social change condition). Cardiovascular responses were assessed via cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and the Threat–Challenge Index (TCI), and analyzed using multilevel modeling. In line with preregistered predictions, the social-change condition elicited stronger physiological threat than the status-quo (lower or stable CO, higher TPR, decreased TCI). These responses persisted after controlling for political orientation and (progressive) attitudes, and despite participants generally expressing high support for social change. Exploratory analyses revealed heterogeneity in the sources of threat: Participants either showed reluctance to relinquish status-quo privileges or voiced practical concerns regarding the change. By contrast, relative challenge, which was overall less prevalent, related to perceiving collective resources to deal with the change but also to rationalization of opposition. These findings suggest that even progressive individuals are not always immune to threat responses when confronting concrete systemic change. The results extend the BPS-CT by highlighting the importance of engaging with, rather than avoiding, threat in contexts where social transformation is inherently destabilizing and uncertain. Supplementary Material File (speaking progress feeling threat_manuscript.docx) Download 292.17 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 14 January 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Authors Affiliations Marty Colombo 0000-0002-1695-6985 [email protected] Universiteit Utrecht View all articles by this author Maaike Homan Universiteit Utrecht View all articles by this author Daan Scheepers 0000-0001-6691-7426 Universiteit Utrecht View all articles by this author Félice van Nunspeet Universiteit Utrecht View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 134 views 68 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Marty Colombo, Maaike Homan, Daan Scheepers, et al. Speaking Progress, Feeling Threat: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Systemic Progressive Social Change. Authorea . 14 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176839211.13481627/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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