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Authoritarianism and attitudes toward AIDS victims
1Department of Psychology, Oregon State University, Corvallis.
The Journal of Social Psychology
|February 1, 1990
Summary
This study found that higher authoritarianism correlated with more negative attitudes toward AIDS victims among US students. Significant differences in authoritarianism were observed across US, Japanese, and other Asian student samples.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
Background:
- Authoritarianism is a personality trait characterized by obedience to authority and adherence to traditional values.
- Attitudes toward individuals with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) can be influenced by societal factors and individual psychological predispositions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between authoritarianism and attitudes toward AIDS victims.
- To compare these relationships across different cultural samples.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 158 students at Oregon State University (101 US, 25 Japanese, 32 other Asian).
- Instruments included the Attitudes Toward AIDS Victims (ATAV) Scale, the F Scale (authoritarianism), and the Formal Content of Dogmatism Scale.
Main Results:
- Slight but significant positive correlations were found between the ATAV and F Scales (r = .17) and the ATAV and Dogmatism Scale (r = .20) in the US sample.
- Significant differences in authoritarianism levels were observed among the three national samples, with US students scoring higher.
Conclusions:
- Authoritarianism may be associated with more negative attitudes toward AIDS victims within the US context.
- Cultural factors likely play a significant role in levels of authoritarianism.