Personality typologies and modes of social change

Theoretical questions on the functional relationship between personality and social systems are extended to a consideration of social change. The analysis is made in terms of the interaction of personality structure and varying modes of social reform. Data are taken from a study of Italian student movements of social protest and social action. The Rokeach Dogmatism Scale was utilized as a measure of personality structure. This report focuses on three hypotheses regarding differentials in change-orientation, change-participation, and the utilization and/or the advocation of specific methods and mechanisms of social protest and social reform. Results suggest that social change may be functionally dependent not only more generally upon individuals who are psychologically change-oriented, but also more specifically upon change-agents whose personality structure is congruent with the particular modes that characterize given processes of social change.