Authoritarianism, locus of control, and tolerance of ambiguity as reflected in membership and nonmembership in a women's liberation group.

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that a relationship exists between a behavioral indicator of a pro-women's liberation movement attitude (joining or not joining a women's liberation group) and various personality measures. 44 college females and 31 female members of a national women's liberation organization from a noncollege population were given the following self-report measures: attitudinal questions concerning the Women's Liberation Movement, demographic questions, the California F-Scale, the I-E scale and the Rydell-Rosen Tolerance of Ambiguity Scale. The women's liberation group members differed significantly from the college female nonmembers in that they reported: (a) more favorable attitudes toward the Women's Liberation Movement, (b) lower levels of authoritarianism, (c) feeling more control over their environment, and (d) more tolerance of ambiguity. Demographically, differences were found between women's liberation group members and college female nonmembers in education, political attitudes, and age. Statistical analysis showed these demographic factors were related, in part, to differences between the samples on the measures of Tolerance of Ambiguity, and the I-E scale but not to influence differences found on the F-scale.