Marital Norms and Individualistic Values: A Study of Social Conditions Affecting Consistency.

Difficulties in applying the concept of belief consistency are discussed. It is suggested that social pressures arising from interaction at times influence individuals to adapt particular beliefs which are inconsistent with other beliefs; consequently, autonomous individuals who are freer from external pressures should have more latitude for ordering their beliefs along a dimension of consistency than non-autonomous, involved individuals. Data from a study of working-class wives are presented to test the hypothesis that belief consistency varies inversely with involvement in social relationships. The findings reported partially support the hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]