Personality Traits and Locus of Control as Predictors of Civil Activism

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the possibility of predicting
various forms of civil activism based on personality traits,
locus of control, and some sociodemographic variables. In
this study the participants were 278 activists from 25 NGOs.
Data was collected using the Big Five Inventory, Rotter's
Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, Index of Civil
Activism, and Activism Orientation Scale. The results
indicated that Extraversion was a positive predictor of civil
activism and conventional activism. Openness to experience
was a positive predictor of conventional activism, while
consciousness was a negative predictor of high risk activism.
Locus of control, neuroticism and agreeableness were not
significant predictors of any of the various activism forms.
Personality traits, locus of control, and sociodemographic
variables were able to explain a relatively small percentage
of variance (< 26%) in different forms of activism.