Alienation, dogmatism, and related personality characteristics

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Alienation and dogmatism are distinct but potentially related psychological constructs.
• Previous research has often examined these concepts in isolation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between alienation and dogmatism.
• To identify shared personality characteristics associated with both constructs.
• To explore predictors of alienation within dogmatic belief systems.

Main Methods:

• Administered Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, Keniston Alienation Scale, California Test of Personality, and Omnibus Personality Inventory.
• Collected data from a sample of 92 college freshmen.
• Analyzed correlations between alienation, dogmatism, and personality traits.

Main Results:

• Alienation and dogmatism were found to be positively related.
• Intolerance for opposing beliefs and belief system compulsivity predicted alienation.
• Both concepts correlated with anxiety, low self-esteem, social estrangement, hostility, and isolation.

Conclusions:

• Alienation and dogmatism are interconnected psychological states.
• Shared personality traits include anxiety, low self-esteem, and social estrangement.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering personality in understanding alienation and dogmatism.