Technophobia and personality subtypes in a sample of South African university students

This study examined levels of technophobia in a sample of 176 South African university students enrolled in first-year computing and psychology course s. Technophobia, which is described as negative psychological reactions tow ards technology, was assessed using Rosen and Well's Measuring Technophobia instruments. The levels of technophobia were correlated with each of the f ive dimensions (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, conscie ntiousness) of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. The results indicate a positi ve correlation between technophobia and Neuroticism, and an inverse correla tion between technophobia and Openness. Technophobia was found to be invers ely correlated with computer experience, weakly correlated with age, but no t associated with gender. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.