Personality variables predict strength-related attitude dimensions across objects.
We examined personality predictors of different attitude strength-related dimensions across objects. Participants responded to questions regarding 11 attitude objects that assessed the overall evaluation of the object and the strength-related dimensions of importance, certainty, and relevance. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a 4-factor solution underlying the self-report and extremity dimensions across the 11 attitude objects, with importance and relevance and certainty and extremity loading on 2 second-order factors. The need to evaluate, need for affect, sense of coherence, dogmatism, and personal fear of invalidity were all related at the bivariate level to at least one strength-related dimension. The need to evaluate and the need for affect independently predicted variance in certainty/extremity across the attitude objects and sense of coherence and dogmatism predicted unique variance in importance/relevance across objects. Discussion focuses on the possible processes by which personality variables predict strength-related dimensions across objects.
Britt
Thomas W
TW
Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-1355, USA. twbritt@clemson.edu
Millard
Matthew R
MR
Sundareswaran
Preetha T
PT
Moore
Dewayne
D
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001290:Attitude; D003469:Culture; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept