Values and Personality Characteristics
as Predictors of Ethnic Intolerance
Lusine Grigoryan
National Research University – Higher School of Economics
Starting point
There are many different explanatory models of ethnic
intolerance, but an integrated model, included all
predictors of ethnic intolerance, still doesn’t exist. There
are many “white spots” in this filed:
– One of them is interrelations between individual values and
ethnic intolerance;
– Another – the importance of social and personality predictors.
Purpose of this study is to reveal interconnections
between individual values, personal characteristics and
ethnic intolerance.
Theoretical background

The Authoritarian Personality (T. Adorno), theory of
social categorization and social identity (H. Tajfel),
studies of J. Berry and N. Lebedeva, etc.

Theory of basic human values (Sh. Shwartz)

This theory of personality factors (R. Cattell)
Main hypothesis

Individual values and personal characteristics are
interrelated with ethnic intolerance.
Sub-hypotheses
1.
Such personality factors as Emotional stability, RuleConsciousness, Vigilance, Apprehension, Openness to
change are connected with ethnic intolerance index
negatively.
2.
Such individual values as Power, Achievement, Hedonism,
Security, Conformity and Tradition are connected with ethnic
intolerance positively, while Stimulation, Self-direction,
Universalism and Benevolence – negatively.
3.
There are significant differences in values and traits
between two polar groups: “tolerant” and “intolerant”
respondents.
4.
Individual values have more effect on attitude towards
ethnic tolerance/intolerance compared with personality
factors.
Method
Survey
Questionnaire included:
 Schwartz’s Value Survey (SVS, 57-item);

Tolerance scale (J. Berry) (Cronbach's α = .73);

16 PF (R. Cattell).
Theoretical background
SelfDirection
Stimulation
Universalism
Benevolence
Hedonism
Conformity
Tradition
Achievement
Power
Security
Sample
Ethnicity
Russians
N
104
Age
Median
Spread
20
18 – 34
Percent
of
women
62
Results
Connections between individual values and ethnic
intolerance index
Benevolence
Universalism
Intolerance
- .28**
- .20*
* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01
Intolerance
Self-transcendence
** p < 0.01
- .28**
Results
Interconnections between personality factors and
ethnic intolerance
Rule-Consciousness (from low to
high Super Ego Strength)
Openness to change (from
Conservatism to Radicalism)
* p < 0.05
Intolerance
-.20*
-.23*
Results
Interconnections between individual values and personality factors
Openness to change
Self-direction
Benevolence
Self-transcendence
* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01
Security
Openness to change (from
conservatism to radicalism)
Conformity
Conservation
Rule-Consciousness (from
low to high Low Super Ego
Strength)
.20*
.29**
.36** .42** .36** .27** .29**
Results
Regression analysis:
Dependents
variable
Independent variables
R2
Openness to change

Intolerance
** p < 0.01
- .07 **
.06
Results

Group 1: intolerance index > 2 (22 respondents);

Group 2: intolerance index < 0.67 (15 respondents).
Significant differences in
individual values
Significant differences in value
types
Benevolence
Self-transcendence
U-test
76.5
U-test
98
Z
-2.76
Z
-2.07
p
.005
p
.04
Correlates and predictors of ethnic
intolerance
Self -transcendence
Благожелательность
Benevolence
Универсализм
Universalism
Intolerance
Openness to
change
RuleConsciousness
Negative correlation
Value
Negative regression
Personality factor
Results
ANOVA model:
Sources
F
p
Corrected model
1.56
.05
Tradition
2.55
.04
Benevolence
3.65
.01
Universalism
3.78
.005
Hedonism
2.49
.03
Power
2.86
.02
Corrected R2 = 0.22
Results
Benevolence
F = 3.65**
Universalism
F = 3.78**
Intolerance
Tradition
Hedonism
F = 2.55*
F = 2.49*
Power
F = 2.86*
Findings



Interconnections between values, personality
factors and ethnic intolerance were revealed, so
the main hypothesis of the study was confirmed.
Such personality factors as Rule-Consciousness
and Openness to change and such values as
Benevolence and Universalism (values of Selftranscendence) negatively connected with ethnic
intolerance.
Individual values have stronger effect on attitude
towards ethnic tolerance/intolerance compared
with personality characteristics.
Thank you for attention!