Big Five Traits and Inclusive Generalized Prejudice

Crawford, Jarret,and Mark J Brandt 2018. “Big Five Traits and Inclusive Generalized Prejudice”. PsyArXiv. February 5. psyarxiv.com/6vqwk

Abstract: Existing meta-analytic evidence finds that low levels of Openness and Agreeableness correlate with generalized prejudice. However, previous studies relied on restricted operationalizations of generalized prejudice that only assessed prejudice toward disadvantaged, low-status groups. Across four samples (total N = 7,543), we tested the associations between Big Five traits and generalized prejudice using an inclusive operationalization of generalized prejudice. A meta-analysis of these findings indicates that Openness was only very weakly related to inclusive generalized prejudice, r = -.03, 95%CI [-.07, -.001], whereas low Agreeableness was reliably associated with inclusive generalized prejudice (r = -.23, 95%CI [-.31, -.16]). We additionally found that perceived target ideology moderated relationships between Openness and Conscientiousness and prejudice, and that perceived target status moderated relationships between Agreeableness and Extraversion and prejudice. These results provide new and more nuanced insights into the relationship between personality and prejudice.