A Comparative Study between Majority and Minority group on Liberalism-Conservatism Attitudes in Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study attempted at investigating the similarities and differences of liberalism-conservatism attitudes of majority and minority groups as related to gender and socio-economic status differences within the framework of socio cultural background in Bangladesh. The study has been developed under the theoretical framework of (i) Realistic Group Conflict Theory; (ii) Social Identity Theories; (iii) Social In Group and Out Group Model; (iv) Psychoanalytic Approaches; (v) Sociological Approaches; (vi) Liberalism - Conservatism Approach; and (vii) Rotter’s Social Learning Theory and Internal - External Control of Personality. All these theoretical interpretation have been utilized and integrated in order to show similarities and differences of liberalism-conservatism attitudes of majority (Muslim) and minority (Hindu) groups in Bangladesh. The present study used a multidimensional correlation approach with a criterion group design. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, criterion groups of majority (Muslim) and minority (Hindu) were selected on the basis of their personal information sheet and religious affiliation. Majority (Muslim) and minority (Hindu) further subdivided into male and female on the basis of their personal information sheet. These were again subdivided into upper middle SES and lower middle SES on the basis of their SES criteria questionnaire. This criterion group design has been utilized for distinguishing differences and similarities of liberalism-conservatism attitudes as related to personality variables and socio-economic status for this study. In the second phase, the criterion groups were given measures of (i) Liberalism-conservatism attitude, (ii) Majority-minority attitude, (iii) personality and (iv) Demographic variables. Socio-demographic information included occupation, annual income and education questionnaire. The study utilized a sample comprised of majority (Muslim) and minority (Hindu) groups which were drawn from Dhaka and Rajshahi cities. Each group was composed of 120 respondents equally divided into Muslim and Hindu. Again these groups were subdivided into male and female. Furthermore, these groups were subdivided into upper middle SES and lower middle SES. Thus the total respondents were 240 Ss. The main objective of the study was to find out the similarities and differences in majority-minority attitudes, liberalism-conservatism attitudes and internality, powerful others and chance with reference to gender and SES of Muslim and Hindu ethnic groups of Bangladesh. Some specific objectives of the study are as follows: i. To study the patterns of similarities and differences in majority-minority attitudes as a function of ethnicity. ii. To study the patterns of differences and similarities in liberalism-conservatism attitude with reference to ethnicity. iii. To study patterns of similarities and differences in certain personality variables including internality, powerful others and chance as related to ethnicity………………………….