AUTHORITARIANISM AND INTERNATIONALISM

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 20, Heft 4, S. 621-630

Abstract

Recent socio-psychol'al res has demonstrated a connection between authoritarian personality trends & a tendency towards ingroup-outgroup dichotomizing. A PO survey conducted in Los Angeles County provided the data by which authoritarianism could be related to internationalism, the latter being measured in terms of att's regarding Soviet-American trade in non-strategic goods, & teaching about Soviet life in US Sch's. A personality scale adapted from that described in 1950 by Sanford & Older was applied to 460 persons interviewed about the beginning of 1954. Definite & signif r's were found between personality & attitude toward the 2 questions mentioned. Authoritarians approve of trade with Russia less often than equalitarians (49% as compared to 61%). When they do approve of trade, authoritarians, less frequently than equalitarians, point to the international benefits which might result. More than equalitarians, they think in terms of econ & parochial rather than general & cosmopolitan benefits. Authoritarians also approve of teaching about Russia less often than do equalitarians (70% favorable, as against 85% of equalitarians). When they do approve, they less often refer to the utility of such teaching for reducing intergroup tensions, or to the importance of safeguarding liberal principles. When opposed to such teaching, they more often give as their reason the necessity for combatting Communism. These findings have implications regarding the manner in which propaganda might best be conducted in order to ease tensions. IPSA.