Child abuse potential and authoritarianism

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between child abuse, as measured by the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory, and authoritarianism, as measured by the Public Opinion Scale (POS). The study also attempted to provide convergent and discriminant validity for the CAP abuse factors rigidity and loneliness by correlating these factors with the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) variables order and affiliation, respectively. Group One consisted of 150 undergraduate students. Group Two consisted of 34 adult students from a second site. For the subjects in both groups, a nonsignificant relationship (p greater than .05) between abuse scores and authoritarianism was found. In contrast, in both groups significant relationships (p less than .05) were found between the CAP abuse factor rigidity and authoritarianism. Additional analysis indicated a significant inverse relationship (p less than .05) between the EPPS variable affiliation for Group One, but not for Group Two (p greater than .05).