Personality and attitudes: A re-emphasis upon the cognitive component

Although attempts to demonstrate a relationship between one set of individual differences and the evaluative or behavioral components of an attitude usually have failed, this study examined the possibility that individual differences (i. e., personality) may be important in determining the cognitive component of the attitude (i. e., the rational support offered for the evaluative position or behavior). Students with idealistic value systems (i.e., justice, egalitarian, humanitarian oriented) endorsed idealistic justifications for their attitudinal position (i.e., pro or anti) toward the war in Vietnam. Pragmatic students (i. e., utilitarian, outcome oriented) endorsed the more pragmatic justifications supporting their attitude toward the war.