The Relationship between Right–wing Attitudes and Cognitive Style: A Comparison of Self–report and Behavioural Measures of Rigidity and Intolerance of Ambiguity

Abstract

Two recent meta–analytic studies addressing the relationship between cognitive style and right–wing attitudes yielded some discrepancies. We argue that these discrepancies can be accounted for when one considers the types of cognitive style measures included in those analyses. One of these analyses primarily relied on self–report measures, whereas the other relied on behavioural measures of cognitive style. Based on a new meta–analysis of 103 samples (total N = 12 714) focussing on behavioural and self–report measures of rigidity and intolerance of ambiguity, we confirmed the hypothesis that self–report scales yield stronger relationships with right–wing attitudes than behavioural measures. We point out potential conceptual and validity issues with both types of cognitive style measures and call for cautiousness when interpreting the magnitude of their relationships with ideology. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology