Makale Özeti: Evaluating the Relationship Between the Five-Factor Model of Personality and Religious Orientation

The aim of this study is, searching for is there any relation between five factor model and religious orientation. Religion orientation is about how people experience religion and it also includes intrinsic, extrinsic and quest orientations. This study was applied 413 undergraduate students. Allport and Ross’s intrinsic and extrinsic scales, Batson and Shoenrade’s quest scale and five factor model inventories were used in order to see results. Students were asked to rate how much items described them.
The results showed that, there was a positive relation between the intrinsic and extrinsic factors, small and positive relation between extrinsic and quest factors, and negative relation between the intrinsic and quest factors. It was also found that religious orientation factors and five factor personality factors had a small correlation. But, small but positive correlation was found between intrinsic religious orientation and Agreeableness. Significantly correlations between intrinsic religious orientation and openness, extrinsic religious orientation and neuroticism, quest religious orientation and neuroticism, openness and agreeableness were found.
Similar to previous studies, the highest relation was between intrinsic religious orientation and Agreeableness which shows that individuals who have more interpersonal relations also have more strong personal commitments. We can also say that, because of the relation between intrinsic religious orientation and openness, this kind of people internalizes the religion and associate the religion into their life. Small but statistically significant positive correlation was found between extrinsic religious orientation and neuroticism. More extrinsic people do not internalize religion and have more causal approach to religion. They are more concerned with benefits of religion rather than actual beliefs. People who are high in emotional stability show more negative emotionality. So we can say that there is a positive relation between neuroticism and extrinsic religious orientation.
Finally, religious orientation seems to be related with five factor model, at the same it is independent from it. We can conclude that, five factor models are more general than religious orientation. However, religious orientation is an individual difference variable which can affect the dimensions of five factor model.

Barret C. E., Roesch S. C. (2009). Evaluating the Relationship between the Five-Factor Model of Personality and Religious Orientation. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 28, 195-199.

Makaleyi Özetleyen: Merve Feyizoğlu