[Extent of dogmatism in different age groups (3d-7th decade of life)]

The dogmatism scale measures a congnitive structure called "open-closed-mindedness" which, according to Rokeach, is not equivalent to the construct rigidity, although a relationship can be found between measures of dogmatism and rigidity. The relationship between rigidity and age is demonstrated in a number of studies. The question arises as to the relationship between dogmatism and age. The dogmatism scale was presented to a sample of 320 men and women of different age. The effect of the factors age as well as sex and education on a number of measures of dogmatism was tested by analyses of variance. A clear non-linear relationship to age was found for the following dogmatism dimensions: belief in one truth, belief in one cause, and assumptions about the future. Possible reasons for the differing means of the individual age groups in this cross-sectional study are discussed.