Personality, social distance and conflicts: Personality functioning, empathy and socioeconomic factors predicting social distancing and conflicts with minorities

Abstract

Objective. Although previous studies pointed to various aspects of social distance and conflicts with representatives of otherness, associations with objectively measured aspects of personality in the form of a semi-structure interview combined with observation are less common. Based on previous studies, this study focused on the relationship between social distance and conflicts with representatives of otherness. It was hypothesized that the lower the personality functioning, the higher will be social distance and more conflicts with representatives of otherness will be reported. We assumed that impaired empathy would be associated with higher social distance in comparison with other variables of personality functioning derived from Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) – identity, self-direction and intimacy. Sample and methods. Participants (N = 204) were recruited from several contrast groups including clinical and measures focused on conflicts, personality functioning (STiP-5.1), social distance (Bogardus Social Distance Scale). Additionally, several related methods were used. Results. Increased impairments in identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy were associated with a higher degree of subjective importance of conflicts with representatives of otherness. Greater social distance was associated with impairments in self-direction and empathy. However, social distance was found independent of subjectively experienced conflicts. Multivariate linear regressions showed that social distance was predicted by education, racism, and personality functioning (STiP-5.1 – Self-direction), BR and SR scores, explaining 58 per cent of the variance. Conclusions. The subjective importance of conflicts and social distance to representatives of otherness is associated with AMPD.