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The Psychological Bases of Political Allegiance Among White‐Collar Males
Author(s) -
STACEY B. G.,
GREEN R. T.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
british journal of social and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0007-1293
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1968.tb00540.x
Subject(s) - allegiance , egalitarianism , authoritarianism , deference , conservatism , politics , psychology , social psychology , white (mutation) , population , political science , sociology , law , demography , democracy , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Empirical research has established the demographic variables which distinguish the supporters of the major political parties. The present study was undertaken to explore further the psychological bases of political allegiance among white‐collar males. A factor analysis of sixty‐six variables constituting a questionnaire completed by 202 subjects showed that conservatism in this section of the population has many features. The following are of considerable importance: an intensely expressed patriotism, authoritarianism, élitism and anti‐egalitarianism, political, economic and social pragmatism. All these features contain a strong element of deference. Labour supporters are characterized by an egalitarian, anti‐élitist and cosmopolitan outlook. They also have a strong tendency to be anti‐authoritarian.