Die verband tussen konserwatisme en kognitiewe buigsaamheid by Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente

Abstract

The recent democratisation of South Africa has led to many changes in the political, economic and social systems. Consequently adolescents, as members of society, find themselves in a context of change and adjustment. As individuals’ levels of conservatism and cognitive flexibility may influence their ability to cope with changing circumstances, the goal of this study was to determine the relationship between conservatism and cognitive flexibility in adolescents. The influence of gender and culture on that relationship was also to be determined. The relevant variables were cognitive flexibility and conservatism. Six attitude groupings of conservatism were identified,
namely: religious fundamentalism, anti-hedonism, a conformist attitude towards authority, teenage behaviour, ethnocentrism and an insistence on strict rules and punishment. The results of the study indicated that adolescents with high levels of cognitive flexibility exhibit higher levels of conservatism in terms of religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism, teenage behaviour and an insistence on strict rules and punishment.