ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This study attempts to identify the psychological foundation of progressive-conservative political orientation that has been found to shape political attitudes toward North Korea and reunification, focusing on its such motivational bases as values and ideological predispositions. It made the following observations based on a nationally representative survey data analysis: First, the analysis confirms that Schwartz’s basic values such as self-direction and stimulation are related to progressive political orientation while tradition to conservative orientation. It also finds that postmaterialism is negatively related to most conservative values except for benevolent sexism, which suggests that postmaterialism is a more valid motivation basis of political orientation than Schwartz’s basic values. Second, right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, system justification are found to be motivational bases for conservative political orientation. These individual difference variables are positively correlated to age while negatively to income and education. Third, a series of multiple regression analyses shows that progressive political orientation is found to increase preferences for reunification and conciliatory policy toward North Korea while to reduce hawkish policy preferences toward North Korea. Lastly, women are more likely to show negative attitudes about reunification while older generations are more likely to favor both appeasement policies toward North Korea and reunification, as recent studies have found.

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