The H Factor of Personality by Kibeom Lee

Author:Kibeom Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Published: 2012-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)

Researchers who study political attitudes have found that people’s attitudes can be predicted very well by just two variables. Those variables are called Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). Both are assessed by self-report scales. To give you an idea of what these scales measure, we’ve listed some of the items on each scale in Table 7-1.

First let’s consider RWA, which was developed by Bob Altemeyer.2 People who have high levels of RWA show three related tendencies: they conform to conventional norms, they obey the established authorities, and they support aggression by those authorities against people who don’t conform or who don’t obey. In short, high RWA people tend to disapprove of people and ideas that challenge the accepted beliefs and structure of society. In the 16th century they would have disliked the heliocentric theory of Copernicus. In the 19th century they would have disliked Darwin’s Theory of Evolution (come to think of it, many of them still do). High-RWA people in North America today have a predictable pattern of views on political issues: many of them oppose the legalization of (among other things) abortion and doctor-assisted suicide as well as same-sex marriage and recreational drugs.

TABLE 7–1 Example Items from the Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation Scales

Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA)

Everyone should have their own lifestyle, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences, even if it makes them different from everyone else. (R)

The only way our country can get through the crisis ahead is to get back to our traditional values, put some tough leaders in power, and silence the troublemakers spreading bad ideas.

The facts on crime, sexual immorality, and the recent public disorders all show that we have to crack down harder on deviant groups and troublemakers if we are going to save our moral standards and preserve law and order.

The established authorities generally turn out to be right about things, while the radicals and protestors are usually just “loudmouths” showing off their ignorance.

Our country needs free thinkers who have the courage to defy traditional ways, even if this upsets many people. (R)

Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)

Some groups of people are simply inferior to others.

To get ahead in life, it is sometimes necessary to step on other groups.

Sometimes other groups must be kept in their place.

We should do what we can to equalize conditions for different groups. (R)

All groups should be given an equal chance in life. (R)

Note: “R” indicates a reverse-keyed statement, meaning that disagreement contributes to higher scores on the scale. RWA items from Altemeyer (1981, 1996); SDO items from Pratto et al. (1994).

Next let’s consider SDO, which was developed by Felicia Pratto and Jim Sidanius.3 People who are high in SDO generally want some groups of people (presumably their own) to have higher status and greater wealth and power than other groups. In other words, they prefer hierarchy to equality, both within and between societies. In the 19th century they would have opposed the abolition of serfdom or slavery (unless, of course, they themselves were serfs or slaves).

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