Milton Rokeach: The Nature And Meaning of Dogmatism
作者: mints / 19548次阅读 时间: 2010年2月08日
来源: http://www.all-about-psychology.com/ 标签: Rokeach RoKeach
www.psychspace.com心理学空间网
心理学空间 Tk~;Gy9_B_4e
Dr. Milton Rokeach, 1979

't]tK9yq H \[0Introduction心理学空间/VC c'F-Og i2c

:x0M,i8c!S6^'M"E0The psychology of dogmatism is as relevant today as when Dr. Milton Rokeach began his pioneering work into this enduring topic. The ideas contained within this important paper informed the development of the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale and stimulated research into the psychology of human belief systems and dogmatism as a personality trait.心理学空间;l1vo8Z|Z,~

-Qe X6a2w0The Article in Full

\)g-{3fEn0

I+[v?0p:E2N2s|&r0In this paper we will attempt to provide the theoretical groundwork for a research project on the phenomenon of dogmatism in various spheres of human activity—political, religious, and scientific. Our main purpose is to present a detailed theoretical statement of the construct of dogmatism which is guiding the research. More specifically, we will define the phenomenon of dogmatism by representing it as a hypothetical cognitive state which mediates objective reality within the person, describe the properties of its organization, and present a number of postulates regarding the relation between dogmatism and other variables. On the basis of part of such a formulation we have thus far developed a preliminary scale for measuring individual differences in dogmatism and several testable hypotheses relevant to our conceptual definition (to be reported subsequently).

Xf6j+}1tJ0

Z9j1N0{'||0A second purpose stems from the fact that our construct of dogmatism involves the convergence of three highly interrelated sets of variables: closed cognitive systems, authoritarianism, and intolerance. By virtue of this convergence it will be possible to examine certain assumptions underlying previous research on authoritarianism and intolerance with the aim of achieving a possibly broader conceptualization of these phenomena.心理学空间DE d'O{{4dA$O

心理学空间U!J@h:N i!aFo

It is not within the scope of this paper to inquire into the social or personal conditions which give rise to dogmatism. This is considered to be an independent theoretical problem. Having defined the problem of dogmatism and its representation at the cognitive level—the main purpose of this paper—one can then seek explanations according to one's theoretical orientation.

waE i"u-UDv0心理学空间zZFf&o M;u U7l

A basic assumption guiding the present formulation is that despite differences in ideological content, analysis will reveal certain uniformities in the structure, the function, and, to some extent, even the content of dogmatism. Accordingly, attention will be directed to both political and religious dogmatism and, within each area, to diverse and even opposed dogmatic orientations. In the religious sphere, for example, one can observe expressions of dogmatic Catholicism and dogmatic anti-Catholicism, dogmatic orthodox Judaism and dogmatic antiorthodox Judaism, dogmatic theism and dogmatic atheism. In the political sphere one can observe expressions of dogmatic conservatism and dogmatic liberalism, dogmatic Marxism and dogmatic anti-Marxism.

;M!|;\!d4\,E k'B0心理学空间o/@fiF{E

The problem of dogmatism, however, is not necessarily restricted to the political and religious spheres. It can be observed in other realms of intellectual and cultural activity—in philosophy, the humanities, and the social sciences. To take some examples from psychology, it is possible to observe expressions of dogmatic Freudianism and dogmatic anti-Freudianism, dogmatic learning theory and dogmatic antilearning theory, dogmatic gestalt theory and dogmatic antigestalt theory, and so forth.心理学空间NzjCfqllP

_5|sx:tO)LT o0Dogmatism, furthermore, need not necessarily involve adherence to this or that group-shared, institutionalized system of beliefs. It is conceivable that a person, especially one in academic circles, can be dogmatic in his own idiosyncratic way, evolving a unique rather than institutionalized integration of ideas and beliefs about reality. The present formulation will attempt to address itself to noninstitutional as well as institutional aspects of dogmatism.

] Eq#x2@&}C'l0

E6Q@q9NI/}Q0GENERAL SETTING FOR A COGNITIVE REPRESENTATION OF DOGMATISM心理学空间#yDT3[ @#G/f

#to!t&FZ u\ z'_i0O0To conceptualize dogmatism adequately at the cognitive level it is first necessary to employ a set of conceptual tools in terms of which all cognitive systems, varying in degree of dogmatism, may be represented.心理学空间#w'A"cG2I

心理学空间B4F+y`-Eg

Organization into Belief and Disbelief Systems心理学空间2_'j[V/Hg5_ L

心理学空间1n,|'Q(Za

Objective reality can be assumed as being represented within a person by certain beliefs or expectations which to one degree or another are accepted as true, and other beliefs or expectations accepted as false. For the sake of analysis this can be formalized by conceiving of all cognitive systems as being organized into two interdependent parts: a belief system and a disbelief system. This belief-disbelief system can further be conceived as varying in terms of its structure and content as follows:

E:F%e N'h A9PhjMO0心理学空间.R wf$q;a

Structure心理学空间3vAV'`:WG+`

&B CM)b{ vC+N0The total structure of a belief-disbelief system can be described as varying along a continuum from open to closed. This continuum, in turn, may be conceived as a joint function of: (a) The degree of interdependence among the parts within the belief system, within the disbelief system, and between belief and disbelief systems (6, 7, 9, 12). (b) The degree of interdependence between central and peripheral regions of the belief-disbelief system (9). (c) The organization of the belief-disbelief system along the time perspective dimension (2, 3, 4, 8).心理学空间!a,FVoP @

心理学空间Q+Wz~ V/{N

Content

,h?}7l L*SWB0

?G W2g#d\0One can further describe all belief-disbelief systems in terms of the formal content of centrally located beliefs, especially those having to do with beliefs about authority and people in general.心理学空间+K6MV9CkUP0I

5F`Ez4h#g0A COGNITIVE REPRESENTATION OF DOGMATISM心理学空间 AK` ?)J[

心理学空间LW%V3^$UF9~:n

In line with the above considerations we will now define dogmatism as (a) a relatively closed cognitive organization of beliefs and disbeliefs about reality, (b) organized around a central set of beliefs about absolute authority which, in turn, (c) provides a framework for patterns of intolerance and qualified tolerance toward others. A cognitive organization is considered to be closed to the extent that there is (a) isolation of parts within the belief system and between belief and disbelief systems, (b) a discrepancy in the degree of differentiation between belief and disbelief systems, (c) dedifferentiation within the disbelief system, (d) a high degree of interdependence between central and peripheral beliefs, (e) a low degree of interdependence among peripheral beliefs, and (f) a narrowing of the time perspective.心理学空间Jf0Fv0z w

M t8b,jg7@5q:j0More specifically, in the relatively closed belief-disbelief system there is assumed to be a relation of relative isolation among the various parts of the belief system and between belief and disbelief systems. The latter, in turn, is composed of a series of disbelief subsystems, each arranged along a gradient of similarity to the belief system, the most similar disbelief subsystems being represented as regions most adjacent to the belief system. Each of these disbelief subsystems is conceived, to the extent that it is part of a closed system, as being relatively less differentiated than the belief system and, the farther away their positions from the belief system, as increasingly dedifferentiated with respect to each other.

$^"To#\^Q0心理学空间+_ e iX c0b.L

Belief-disbelief systems can also be represented along a central-peripheral dimension. The more closed the system the more the central part corresponds to absolute beliefs in or about authority, and the more the peripheral part corresponds to beliefs and disbeliefs perceived to emanate from such authority.

.tT$Z @)n|0心理学空间\9Xi? uQ I e9Sm

With respect to the time perspective dimension, increasingly closed systems can be conceived as being organized in a relatively future-oriented or past-oriented direction rather than in terms of a more balanced orientation of past, present, and future.

J}&\,^4`9G0心理学空间 ZSH Kl/r]xT

With regard to the content of dogmatism, while the specific content of both central and peripheral parts may vary from one particular ideological system to another, it is possible to specify that in general the formal content of the central part of the system, to the extent it is closed, has to do with absolute beliefs in and about positive and negative authority, either external or internal, and related beliefs representing attempts on the part of such authority to perpetuate itself. Furthermore, the central part can be conceived to provide a framework for the organization of other beliefs representing patterns of rejection and qualified acceptance of people in general according to their patterns of agreement and disagreement with the belief-disbelief system.心理学空间 e(\6v"Uw:J^ l

P6n|7jY)@#EHW0DOGMATISM DISTINGUISHED FROM RIGIDITY

Pp["k+J4~0

z+up I3pB0Before going on to elaborate further on our conceptual definition of dogmatism, it may be illuminating first to distinguish the construct of dogmatism in a general way from that of rigidity. Both dogmatism and rigidity refer to forms of resistance to change, but dogmatism is conceived to represent a relatively more intellectualized and abstract form than rigidity. Whereas dogmatism refers to total cognitive organizations of ideas and beliefs into relatively closed ideological systems, rigidity, when genotypically conceived, refers solely to the degree of isolation between regions (7, 12) or to a "property of a functional boundary which prevents communication between neighboring regions" (6, p. 157); when phenotypically conceived, rigidity is denned in terms of the way a person or animal attacks, solves, or learns specific tasks and problems (11). Thus, dogmatism is seen as a higher order and more complexly organized form of resistance to change. While dogmatism may well be hypothesized to lead to rigidity in solving specific problems, the converse is not necessarily the case. Rats, the feebleminded, and the brain-injured, for example, can be characterized as rigid (also compulsive, fixated, perseverative, inflexible) but hardly as dogmatic.

cy3@z-@q8y0

Q#x[ _:s/rt ]+}5UW8d0Furthermore, whereas rigidity refers to person-to-thing or animal-to-thing relationships, dogmatism is manifested almost necessarily in situations involving person-to-person communication. Thus, we speak of a person as tying his shoelaces or solving an arithmetic problem rigidly, but of a professor, a politician, an orator, a theoretician, or an art critic as expressing himself to others dogmatically.心理学空间7zI&R~,uZY/U&\I#E

心理学空间]z!NB c`Q^*s

A final differentiation, closely related to the preceding, is that dogmatism has a further reference to the authoritarian and intolerant manner in which ideas and beliefs are communicated to others. Thus, the range of behavior considered under the rubric of dogmatism is considerably broader than rigidity and at the same time of possibly more intrinsic interest to the sociologist, the political scientist, and the historian, as well as the psychologist.心理学空间'j ? ~J\6x1t(P1rZk/h

心理学空间N8MJ,nZ"Ema

POSTULATES INVOLVING THE COGNITIVE STRUCTURE OF DOGMATISM心理学空间r3yEt2a!~

R~&`F0\ T4Jz)o0To the extent that the belief-disbelief system is closed, it is subjected to continual stresses and strains from objective and social reality. Reality can be coerced into congruence with the belief-disbelief system by virtue of the arrangement of parts within the belief-disbelief systems, within and between the central and peripheral regions thereof, and by virtue of its organization along the time perspective dimension.

H2^bZ['V)DK0

1cwr!l^ ?R0A. Isolation within and between Belief and Disbelief Systems

)| u%aq y R3Y0

&i!f;^v0Q'P$I\dSv m0The greater the dogmatism the greater are the assumed degree of isolation or independence between the belief and disbelief systems and the assumed degree of isolation among the various parts of the belief system. On the basis of these considerations we introduce the following postulates:心理学空间g u"fH`,n

心理学空间4t@4w Z8B2~ fh+r

1. Accentuation of differences between belief and disbelief systems.心理学空间 P(K E I"u*W4\

d"S0_1j(eA1D+@0The greater the dogmatism the more will the belief system be perceived as different in content or aim from the disbelief system (e.g., Catholicism and Protestantism; the United States and the USSR; fascism and communism; psychoanalysis and behaviorism).心理学空间|K"~tz E

心理学空间/zt#\{0dYf~ }

2. The perception of irrelevance.

n"__)O3Fs+Q r0心理学空间 LgG.Wka+c'F

The greater the dogmatism the more will ideological arguments pointing to similarities between belief and disbelief systems be perceived as irrelevant.心理学空间9w[Vu8X"p6O

心理学空间 bo,@Ek k'D

3. Denial.

O&E#h:c.dks9E-H0

%S+XfA6s?Orx&E0The greater the dogmatism the greater the denial of events contradicting or threatening one's belief system (e.g., on grounds of "face absurdity," that the true facts are not accessible, that the only available sources of information are biased because they are seen to emanate from the disbelief system, etc.).

f,`KA+`0

ax#^$L3aa;p04. Coexistence of contradictions within the belief system.心理学空间h&W{]8yApF

H/v4@6o` _ @.V0In line with the assumption that in increasingly closed cognitive organizations there is relatively more isolation among subparts of the belief system, as well as between belief and disbelief systems, it is postulated that the degree of adherence to contradictory beliefs will vary directly with the degree of dogmatism. Some examples of contradictory beliefs are an abhorrence of violence together with the belief that it is justifiable under certain conditions; expressions of faith in the intelligence of the common man and at the same time the belief that the masses are stupid; a belief in democracy and along with this the belief that our country can best be run by an intellectual elite; a belief in freedom for all but at the same time the belief that freedom for certain groups should be restricted; a belief that science makes no value judgments about "good" and "bad" but also that scientific criteria are available for distinguishing "good" theory from "bad" theory, and "good" experiment from "bad" experiment (13).

u}W&eEs Z1c0

*wme%W6| iwS7h.C0B. The Disbelief Gradient心理学空间5R:ge[9N!g

心理学空间-]o:HBa@L

We have already indicated that in relatively closed systems there is relative isolation between belief and disbelief systems. However, the various disbelief subsystems cannot all be assumed to be equally isolated from the belief system. Rather, degree of isolation can further be conceived as varying with the degree of perceived similarity of the various disbelief subsystems to the belief system. Those disbelief subsystems most similar to the belief system can be represented as regions most adjacent to the belief region and, hence, in relatively greater communication or interaction with the belief system than less similar disbelief subsystems.心理学空间rj)mz+D EWI

3D B$K.Qa01. Strength of rejection of various disbelief subsystems.

'lkar3B%nun#A0心理学空间fah)sFb!~

The greater the dogmatism the more will the disbelief subsystem most similar to the belief system (factional or "renegade" subsystems) be perceived as threatening the validity of the belief system and hence the greater the tendency to exert effort designed to reject this subsystem and the adherents thereof. For example, with an increase in dogmatism there will be an increasingly militant rejection of Protestantism by the Catholic, of reformed Judaism by the more conservative Jew, of Trotskyism and Titoism by the Communist, and vice versa. In the academic realm, too, the greater the dogmatism the more antagonism there will be among representatives of divergent views within a single discipline as compared with related disciplines.

tC!F%pTu+b0心理学空间@Ja8BkZk LL0O

2. Willingness to compromise.

_'`}4Zw0

Zb\?X0Z'q0Even though a person or group may reject a disbelief system it is often necessary, for the sake of achieving political or religious aims, to form working alliances with other individuals or groups. It is here postulated that such compromising varies inversely with dogmatism: the greater the dogmatism the less compromise there will be with adherents to the disbelief subsystem closest to the belief system.

;Z0tE,TC[F5UYkc0心理学空间7cws2j)z o

C. Relative Degrees of Differentiation of Belief and Disbelief Systems心理学空间gk$vgq2]9o

Gtqlc4k J~!DY0In our cognitive representation of dogmatism we have assumed that the greater the dogmatism the more differentiated the belief system will be as compared with the disbelief system. Moreover, various disbelief subsystems have been assumed to become relatively more dedifferentiated with respect to each other the farther away their positions from the belief system.

5Zi/R yk)d1xC1j o0心理学空间}-gCk*Qae2N.s"j

The following postulates are based upon these considerations:

1A/f AyO0心理学空间L6q*ANS

1. Relative amount of knowledge possessed.心理学空间!OII;gkALO

!C!T(jg_q*A&IXl9U0The greater the dogmatism the greater the discrepancy between degree of knowledge of facts, events, ideas, and interpretations stemming from the belief system and any one of the disbelief subsystems. Thus, for example, with an increase in dogmatism there will be an increasing discrepancy in the Freudian's knowledge of classical psychoanalysis as compared with Adlerian psychology or learning theory.

s5WZ2n:@0心理学空间Rd8F5J,g+f1S4t

2. Juxtaposition of beliefs and disbeliefs.

%FL [6j.`i0心理学空间Ei U#sY ^6f/|

Under special conditions, however, e.g., social or personal conditions which lead to disillusionment with the belief system and thence to conversion wherein beliefs and disbeliefs become juxtaposed, it is conceivable that one of the disbelief subsystems will be more differentiated than the belief system. It is therefore postulated that as a function of the reversal of belief and disbelief systems, the greater the dogmatism the greater the discrepancy between degrees of differentiation of belief and disbelief systems in favor of the latter.

z{UY/^ ue;rY/v-i:P&{0

\H8K-iD6n?03. Dedifferentiation within the disbelief system.心理学空间 g e'dY$] xAa

K,Bb Fx v0H@8_s0The greater the dogmatism the more will two or more disbelief subsystems represented as positions relatively far away from the belief system along the disbelief gradient be perceived as "the same" (e.g., that communism and socialism are the same, that the Democrats and Republicans are both run by Wall Street, etc.).心理学空间.J3e:@*V0dU/ABH

#kb$DOUsM0D. Relation between Central and Peripheral Parts心理学空间]4K,s4?|4wv d

s3HQRpU"D0We have assumed further that, to the extent we are dealing with closed systems, the central part corresponds to beliefs in and about absolute authority and the peripheral part to beliefs and disbeliefs perceived to emanate from such authority. Thus, the more closed the system the greater the assumed degree of communication between central and peripheral beliefs and, at the same time, the less the assumed degree of communication among the various peripheral beliefs. From these considerations it follows also that any given change in the peripheral part represents an isolated change in cognitive content without concomitant changes either in cognitive structure or in over-all ideological content.

&@US1YA([4A,h0

\i4o ebV~`,|0It is this interrelation between central and peripheral parts which gives the relatively closed system its integrated and systematic character. Specific peripheral beliefs and disbeliefs are organized together not so much by intrinsic logical connections as by virtue of their perceived origination with positive and negative authority, respectively. Whatever characterizes the authority's ideology, as represented by the central part, will be mirrored "gratuitously" in the closed system.

+jBf`v7~f0

\y1u5_8qLt ]H:Er0If the authority is logical, the closed system will appear logical; if the authority is illogical, the closed system will appear illogical. The more closed the system the more will it reflect in toto the authority's own system with its logic or illogic, its manifest intellectualism or anti-intellectualism, and so forth.心理学空间,VU9LU rR

心理学空间Qp R aM t9J^~

1. "Party-line" changes.

+aI [%Uc%a^ O0心理学空间'XP3_)Dd@,~~5i#u%M

It is commonly observed that relatively dogmatic views on specific issues are stubbornly resistant to change by logical argument or objective evidence. One possible reason for this becomes apparent in the light of the preceding considerations. The greater the dogmatism the more will there be a change in a given peripheral belief (e.g., about birth control) if it is preceded by a perceived corresponding change by the authority (e.g., the Catholic Church). Moreover, the greater the dogmatism the less will any given change in a peripheral belief effect changes in other peripheral beliefs (e.g., about divorce, federal aid to education, etc.).心理学空间H[~S/g g3Z*A

心理学空间lN1]4Hc|ra\/Z)t

2. Assimilation.

BFC VUn w0心理学空间3l1xx,Bdj

Further considerations regarding the relation between central and peripheral parts lead also to the following postulate: The greater the dogmatism the greater the assimilation of facts or events at variance with either the belief or disbelief system by altering or reinterpreting them such that they will no longer be perceived as contradictory.

8T ts$bR:S AF ZZ0心理学空间h Cj.oQ#H!A(Z

3. Narrowing.

Uuy1L-wE!K0心理学空间K tV^*J@

Assuming, as we have, that the central region is crucial in determining what aspects of reality will be represented within the peripheral region, it follows that it will also be crucial in determining what aspects of reality will not be represented (12). The greater the dogmatism the more the avoidance of contact with stimuli—people, events, books, etc.—which threaten the validity of the belief system or which proselyte for competing disbelief systems.

.]-N$~ Y#hK%w0

4xS5lYm8Pt}ej0Cognitive narrowing may be manifested at both institutional and noninstitutional levels. At the institutional level, narrowing may be manifested by the publication of lists of taboo books, the removal and burning of dangerous books, the elimination of those regarded as ideological enemies, the omission of news reports in the mass media unfavorable to the belief system or favorable to the disbelief system, and the conscious and unconscious rewriting of history (10).

JZE Ijet'G'J"^2n0

RT)hTv Y4kT0At the noninstitutional level, narrowing may become apparent from the systematic restriction of one's activities in order to avoid contact with people, books, ideas, social and political events, and other social stimuli which would weaken one's belief system or strengthen part of one's disbelief system. Relevant here are such things as exposing oneself only to one point of view in the press, selectively choosing one's friends and associates solely or primarily on the basis of compatibility of belief systems, selectively avoiding social contact with those adhering to different belief systems, and avoiding those who formerly believed as one does.

,R#u#Vbe!Y0~cpQi S-R0

"I#vb^eo4km*u0In academic circles cognitive narrowing over and above that demanded by present day specialization may be manifested by a selective association with one's colleagues and selective subscription, purchase, and reading of journals and books such that one's belief system becomes increasingly differentiated while one's disbelief system becomes increasingly dedifferentiated or "narrowed out."

ej{i(G c!?0

Z8L$L;Aw!D8yR1[_0E. Time Perspective

7q O6u h#t@0

e2|8qd+N"y01. Attitude toward the present.

d0@"py|h0心理学空间4]q mzUSUoZ

The greater the dogmatism the more will the present be perceived as relatively unimportant in its own right—as but a passageway to some future Utopia. Furthermore, with an increase in dogmatism there will be a concomitant increase in the perception of the present as unjust and as full of human suffering.心理学空间/E x t9i u1s

心理学空间U+I/q X,r0S-i

2. Belief in force.

'h1O8c`6ANU V0

K)Krcs3m1VK0Such a disaffected conception of the present can readily lead to the belief that a drastic revision of the present is necessary. Thus, we are also led to the following postulate: The greater the dogmatism the greater the condonement of force.

`.{)^a;o/} dy0心理学空间qQ0IYE HS

3. Knowing the future.

8N DV+[\%U0

:h#Q0acmhy6G0Another aspect of time perspective has to do with one's understanding of the future. With an increase in dogmatism there will be the following variations: an increasing confidence in the accuracy of one's understanding of the future, a generally greater readiness to make predictions, and a decreasing confidence in the predictions of the future made by those adhering to disbelief systems.

O,p$|+l,n X A0心理学空间:Gd:w.g3X

POSTULATES INVOLVING THE COGNITIVE CONTENT OF DOGMATISM心理学空间|V7qZ.y,k

心理学空间s!S @.h#AsgB

We have already pointed out that while the specific content of beliefs and disbeliefs varies from one system to another, it is nevertheless possible to point to certain uniformities in the formal content of centrally located beliefs which, to the extent that they are part of a closed system, form the cognitive bases for authoritarianism and intolerance.心理学空间7wd:t1Pu vS1C

心理学空间a(cZ)C%F#l1} r*G

A. Authoritarianism

3M QT S9Hk0心理学空间 @7g.] C.[)FB

At the center of the belief-disbelief system, to the extent it is closed, is assumed a set of absolute beliefs about positive and negative authority and other closely related beliefs representing attempts by such authority to reinforce and perpetuate itself.心理学空间a/K@ MP}

心理学空间)i0F4CrI6b'ut

1. Positive and negative authority.心理学空间w]h:{*{:{,L\ }

心理学空间^-B8D.w t'` `}

With an increase in dogmatism there will be not only increasing admiration or glorification of those perceived in positions of positive authority but also increasing fear, hatred, and vilification of those perceived in positions of authority opposed to positive authority.

5s"fm N!T8R8d z I0心理学空间5t;E\7ksz,j

2. The cause.

b.z cAr;Xy2A0

_ E)H SEC0b/N-B/r0With an increase in dogmatism there will be an increasing strength of belief in a single cause and concomitantly a decreasing tendency to admit the legitimacy of other causes. Manifestations of strength of belief in a single cause might be making verbal references to "the cause," expressing oneself as "feeling sorry" for those who do not believe as one does, believing that one should not compromise with one's ideological enemies, perceiving compromise as synonymous with appeasement, believing that one must be constantly on guard against subversion from within or without, and believing that it is better to die fighting than to submit.心理学空间2Zq [M n2IPf-b

$v0Wm'U'N5C$T1d03. The elite.

3A*I#v(p4Hj _0

\2V;Tk"UPZ W0With an increase in dogmatism there will be an increase in strength of belief in an elite (political, hereditary, religious, or intellectual).心理学空间$Zc"N,N/g.eD

0bm6?+V0]{1xK R!`0B. Intolerance心理学空间'U}[9b)Z

心理学空间$ATfpL

Beliefs in positive and negative authority, the elite, and the cause all have to do with authority as such. Coordinated with such beliefs are others representing organizations of people in general according to the authorities they line up with. In this connection there may be conceived to emerge, with increasing dogmatism, increasingly polarized cognitive distinctions between the faithful and unfaithful, orthodoxy and heresy, loyalty and subversion, Americanism and un-Americanism, and friend and enemy. Those who disagree are to be rejected since they are enemies of God, country, man, the working class, science, or art. Those who agree are to be accepted but only as long as and on condition that they continue to do so. This sort of qualified tolerance is, to our mind, only another form of intolerance. That it can turn quickly into a frank intolerance is often seen in the especially harsh attitude taken toward the renegade from the cause.

1B7v)c j(p4Lv:^0心理学空间$B^Z,lx\

It is in this way that the problem of acceptance and rejection of people can become linked not only with authoritarianism but also with the acceptance and rejection of ideas. Perhaps the most clear-cut single behavioral manifestation of this linkage is the employment of opinionated language in communicating beliefs and disbeliefs to others. Opinionation is a double-barrelled sort of variable which refers to verbal communications involving acceptance or rejection of beliefs in an absolute manner and, at the same time, acceptance or rejection of others according to whether they agree or disagree with one's beliefs.

`EFNJ0

%O4y,@|cJ01. Opinionated rejection.心理学空间 I`8v P,C!P0Br

/J-b!S'`Os]U!E-}0This refers to verbal statements which imply absolute rejection of a belief and at the same time rejection of persons who accept it. The following examples illustrate this:心理学空间 LrE q,m+MN} ^

q8e8]:a^W0"Only a simple-minded fool would think that . . . ," "A person must be pretty stupid to think . . . ," "The idea that . . . is pure hogwash (or poppycock, nonsense, silly, preposterous, absurd, crazy, insane, ridiculous, piddling, etc.)."

J Ixrb&p0心理学空间c4E"D%w2BHI

The preceding considerations lead us to postulate that opinionated rejection will vary directly with dogmatism.

a'f"I:l3K$HgC0

8h$I,D0p&lS02. Opinionated acceptance.心理学空间 `n:~;lo U4{s\ N?*p

s ^9h4Kv#|4l5L0This refers to an absolute acceptance of a belief and along with this a qualified acceptance of those who agree with it. Some examples are: "Any intelligent person knows that . . . ," "Plain common sense tells you that . . . ."

)Cx6eU_`J0

U#JzReiJ5A0Opinionated acceptance will also vary directly with dogmatism.心理学空间b0QL^D!q.\,zx

心理学空间:L3b[/^? Lq-J4t l8h7}

SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER THEORY AND RESEARCH ON AUTHORITARIANISM AND INTOLERANCE心理学空间 T(e4D`}:D1]8C

心理学空间(w)d4b s&B4TB.K1w

Through the pioneering research of Adorno et al. (1) significant theoretical and empirical advances have been made recently in understanding the phenomena of authoritarianism and intolerance. Since our construct of dogmatism also involves a representation of these phenomena, it is proper to ask: To what extent is the present formulation of the problem of dogmatism consonant with the work on the authoritarian personality?

'AU,E&H]0心理学空间E)Cm0\_XZEo'V

To be noted first is a historical fact. The research on the authoritarian personality was launched at a time when the problem of fascism and its attendant anti-Semitism and ethnocentrism was of overriding concern to both social scientist and layman. Given this social setting as a point of departure, it was almost inevitable that the general problem of authoritarianism would become more or less equated with the problems of adherence to fascist ideology and ethnic intolerance. Thus, the personality scale designed to tap underlying predispositions toward authoritarianism was called the F (for fascism) Scale and was found to correlate substantially with measures of ethnic intolerance.心理学空间O,dc7d6Pu

k4?8Xpz0It is widely recognized, however, that authoritarianism is also manifest among radicals, liberals, and middle-of-the-roaders as well as among conservatives and reactionaries. Furthermore, authoritarianism can be recognized as a problem in such areas as science, art, literature, and philosophy, where fascism and ethnocentrism are not necessarily the main issues or may even be totally absent as issues. As pointed out in this paper, dogmatism, which is assumed to involve both authoritarianism and intolerance, need not necessarily take the form of fascist authoritarianism or ethnic intolerance.

$VSYyq8p2`0

0u S~2wz0tf'Z{Y"z0It is thus seen that the total range of phenomena which may properly be regarded as indicative of authoritarianism is considerably broader than that facet of authoritarianism studied so intensively by the authors of The Authoritarian Personality. On theoretical grounds, we are in accord with the view that authoritarianism has a greater affinity to leanings to ideologies which are antidemocratic in content. But it need not be conceived as uniquely connected with such ideologies. If a theory of authoritarianism is to be a general one, it should also be capable of addressing itself to the fact that to a great extent authoritarianism cuts across specific ideological orientations. As we have tried to suggest, dogmatic authoritarianism may well be observed within the context of any ideological orientation, and in areas of human endeavor relatively removed from the political or religious arena.心理学空间(r*xG{&T+i9V,e(A

k]0z*G@0One way to test the validity of the above considerations is to demonstrate that scores on the F Scale are related substantially to measures of dogmatism independently of liberalism-conservatism, or of the kinds of attitudes held toward such groups as Jews and Negroes. The results of one study, already reported (14), show that dogmatism and authoritarianism correlate over .60 when ethnocentrism or political-economic conservatism is held constant. Corroborative findings from several studies will be presented in a more detailed future report.

,mr~&D8E*^e k0心理学空间!` h"^sb ?r!w

Consider further the way the problem of intolerance has been conceived in social-psychological research (1, 5). Parallel to the more or less rough equating of authoritarianism with fascism, and perhaps for similar reasons, intolerance too can be said to have become more or less equated with one aspect of intolerance, namely, ethnic intolerance. Examination reveals that such concepts as intolerance, discrimination, bigotry, social distance, prejudice, race attitudes, and ethnocentrism are all defined operationally in much the same way—by determining how subjects feel or act toward Jews, Negroes, foreigners, and the like.心理学空间;x7Dr]1n+`J;B

] a$H"}D.G0It is reasonable to assume that there are persons who, although they would validly score low on measures of ethnocentrism or similar scales presently in use, would nevertheless be characteristically intolerant of those whose belief-disbelief systems are at odds with their own.

W^8nK s0心理学空间8I)Z sC4|(e

It has already been suggested that while dogmatic authoritarianism may "attach" itself to any ideology, it is probably more closely related to those having antidemocratic content. A similar point may well be made in connection with dogmatic intolerance. Preliminary data already available suggest that measures of dogmatic intolerance (opinionation) and ethnic intolerance are, as expected, related to each other to a significant degree. At the same time they are also found to cut across each other in a relatively independent fashion. The preceding considerations point to other aspects of man's intolerance to man, in addition to ethnic intolerance, which deserve scientific attention. And, as we have tried to point out in discussing the problem of authoritarianism, here too we think there is a need for a more comprehensive conceptualization of the problem of intolerance.心理学空间b$V{&cqn;Qn7P

心理学空间{;G;O1\F

SUMMARY

"k1RZ.bB4q@q3Na0心理学空间!f;QX _/A] @f0hO^

To provide a framework for empirical research we have attempted a conceptual representation of the phenomenon of dogmatism by describing in some detail the properties of its cognitive organization. Dogmatism has been defined as (a) a relatively closed cognitive system of beliefs and disbeliefs about reality, (b) organized around a central set of beliefs about absolute authority which, in turn, (c) provides a framework for patterns of intolerance and qualified tolerance toward others.心理学空间.C%Dr6U#J'Io

心理学空间 I8`x$a9Y"~-@t

We have described this relatively closed cognitive organization in terms of the degree of interdependence among the various parts of the belief-disbelief system, its organization along a central-peripheral dimension, and its organization along a time perspective dimension. We have also described how relatively closed systems could be conceived as being organized around a central part, the formal content of which forms the cognitive bases for patterns of beliefs involving authoritarianism and intolerance.

R)w&t v!\8g-`0

Y:s)lUml0On the basis of various aspects of this hypothetical model of a continuum ranging from the "closed mind" to the "open mind" we have advanced a series of postulates regarding the relation between dogmatism, conceived as a hypothetical construct having the status of an independent variable, and other variables.心理学空间:r or'XQ1vhrO

VNF:VUmf0Furthermore, from our theoretical formulation certain implications were drawn for present thinking and research on the problems of authoritarianism and intolerance. We suggested that selective factors may have operated in such a way that research on both authoritarianism and intolerance has become more or less reduced to and synonymous with but one form of authoritarianism, fascism, and with but one form of intolerance, ethnic intolerance. We suggested too that present thinking and research along these lines are in need of extension in the light of both theoretical considerations and findings which indicate that dogmatic authoritarianism and intolerance cut across in an independent fashion such variables as ethnocentrism, political-economic conservatism, and fascist authoritarianism.

3Ea%xst(J)^g!P0

E:G`u)OM+H0REFERENCES心理学空间v(|Y mD.cT"E

%sX%?,E_?1Wm-l01. ADORNO, T W., FRENKEL-BRUNSWIK, ELSE, LEVINSON, D. J , & SANFORD, R. N. The authoritarian personality. New York" Harper, 1950心理学空间z%uYO-fy

心理学空间;q^rMy;\ v4c Ts

2. CROSSMAN, R The god that failed. New York- Harper, 1949

@+~S9x4B)o0

:|7R1E'T? IO7x%]o%B&_03. FRANK, L. K. Time perspectives. J. soc. Phil., 1939,

D0HXm![I0心理学空间 L2d.n9g)MP~

4, 293-312. 4. HOFFER, E. The true believer. New York: Harper, 1951.

!},X5xKg)pZ+Z/W0

$c8H)SOuFG!}05. JAHODA, MARIE, DEUTSCH, M., & COOK, S W. Research methods in social relations. New York: Dryden, 1951.

[jez vN;i0心理学空间V;cE%n.v0RL&{3Y

6. KOUNIN, J. The meaning of rigidity: a reply to Heinz Werner. Psychol. Rev., 1948, 55, 157-166.

1Lg:Ln5k7E0

W!`*HYC9s:J07. KRECH, D. Notes toward a psychological theory. / Pers., 1949, 18, 66-87.

2Xuk;V5U4?d^*f4wS0

2egA\&k0t(X}08. LEWIN, K Time perspective and morale. In G Watson (Ed.), Civilian morale. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1942

"?3KQy gYGx0心理学空间ITv~ D+ub

9. LEWIN, K. Field theory in social science New York: Harper, 1951.心理学空间/|}Q;o l-m

hx&q|e4W!T;g010 ORWELL, G 1984. New York: New American Library, 1951.心理学空间?!c"b6U.^fN,rc$bs

心理学空间/n"S t"O}T&E

11. ROKEACH, M. Generalized mental rigidity as a factor in ethnocentrism. /. abnorm. soc Psychol, 1948, 43, 259-278心理学空间a uVY9KN

心理学空间 @2l\)~*U

12. ROKEACH, M A method for studying individual differences in "narrow-mindedness." /. Pers., 1951, 20, 219-233. 13. ROKEACH, M. Toward the scientific evaluation of social attitudes and ideologies. J. Psychol., 1951, 31, 97-104. 14. ROKEACH, M. Dogmatism and opinionation on the left and on the right. Amer. Psychologist, 1952, 7, 310. (Abstr心理学空间g9II zD:~XiYRo

www.psychspace.com心理学空间网
TAG: Rokeach RoKeach
«Faith, Hope and Bigotry 85 洛奇赤 | Milton Rokeach
《85 洛奇赤 | Milton Rokeach》
The Three Christs of Ypsilanti 伊普希兰迪的三个耶稣»