The political personality of Japan: An inquiry into the belief systems of diet members

This paper details and analyzes the linkage between personality and politics in Japan. It reports on a study designed to explore a specific dimension of the political personality in Japan, namely dogmatism, and to consider its significance for political behavior. It replicates the research method utilized by DiRenzo (1977)-the Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale-which centered on American and Italian politicians, to examine how open or closed to change the belief systems of Japanese Diet members are, Employing a sample collected in 1993 from 110 newly elected Diet members and from close to 1,000 citizens, the discussion focuses on measuring dogmatism of Diet members and nonpoliticians; on the relationship between dogmatism, party affiliation or support, and ideological orientations; and on the extent to which several sociocultural aspects affect the dogmatism of Diet members.