Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
1981
Abstract
Social learning theorists have recently given increasing attention to the role of situational as well as personal variables in predicting behavior (e.g., Mischel, 1968, 1973; Mischel, Ebbeson and Zeiss, 1973 ; Milgram, 1963, 1964, 1974). This recent research represents a trend away from traditional personality theories which emphasize traits as broad determinants of behavior across different situations. Rokeach's (1960) theory of dogmatism, a personality theory akin to the older trait theories which rests on the conceptualization of personality as an organization of beliefs or expectancies along a central-peripheral dimension, having a definable and measurable structure, has been used to predict behavior across situations. In Rokeach's (1960) conceptualization, intermediate between the central beliefs (primitive beliefs as to the friendliness or hostility of the world) and the peripheral beliefs (individual and specific beliefs emanating from the individual's authority source) are "the beliefs a person has in and about the nature of authority and the people who line up with authority, on whom he depends to help him form a picture of the world he lives in" (Rokeach, I960, p.40). Serving as both source of information and means of validating the information received, authority figures occupy a central position in an individual's relationship to the world around him.
Recommended Citation
Tauxe, Margaret, "Effects of Situational Authority and Subject's Level of Dogmatism on Attitudes Toward Conventional and Unconventional Music." (1981). All ETDs from UAB. 7087.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7087
Comments
MA - Master of Arts; ProQuest publication number 31752007