The Effects of Personal Characteristics and Religious Orientations on Identification with All of Humanity and Humanitarian Behaviors

• Main Author: Brown, Derek Z
• Format: Others
• Published: TopSCHOLAR® 2008
• Subjects: Christian humanitarianism; Authoritarianism; Religious fundamentalism; Personality and Social Contexts; Psychology; Religion; Social Psychology
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/11; http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=theses

This research examined the effects of personal characteristics (empathy and authoritarianism) and religious orientations (Christian humanitarianism and religious fundamentalism) on identification with all humanity and resulting humanitarian behavior. This research also tested two hypothetical models (personality is primary, religion is primary) for the relationship between identification with all humanity and resulting humanitarian behavior. Two samples, consisting of 221 students and 158 adults, completed measures of authoritarianism, religious fundamentalism, dispositional empathy, Christian humanitarianism, identification with all humanity, and an assessment of humanitarian behaviors. As hypothesized, Christian humanitarianism and empathy were positively correlated with identification with all humanity and humanitarian behavior. Furthermore, authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism were negatively correlated with identification with all humanity and humanitarian behavior. Results also suggest that religious views may lead to the strengthening of specific personality characteristics and these, in turn, influence whether or not one identifies with all humanity and engages in humanitarian behaviors. Directions for future research are discussed as well as the implications of this research to real-world settings.