Publication Date

6-1991

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Sam McFarland, Dorsey Grice, Sally Kuhlenschmidt

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

One hundred and two fundamentalist Christians were administered scales measuring three religious orientations (intrinsic and extrinsic religion and religion-as-quest) and selective exposure. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the three orientations and selective exposure to religious information. Selective exposure was measured in three ways: Belief confirmation - seeking belief-supporting information; Selective avoidance - avoiding belief-contradicting information; and Differential exposure - seeking belief-confirming information while avoiding contradicting information. Results of this study indicate that both quest and intrinsic religion predict the desire to read belief-confirming information. For selective avoidance, only quest predicted willingness to read counter-attitudinal information, thus supporting Batson's contention that religion-as-quest uniquely predicts open-minded truthseeking and willingness to doubt. Differential exposure was primarily predicted by extrinsic religion.

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Included in

Psychology Commons

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