1 Social Influence- Obedience P5 (dispositional- authoritarian personality)

Question 1

who proposed a dispositional explanation of obedience?

Answer 1

Adorno (1950)
-the explanation suggests that different personalities can explain rates of obedience
-it claims that a person’s personality can be associated with a higher tendency for obedience

Question 2

give some characteristics that Adorno proposed are associated with having an authoritarian personality

Answer 2

-hostile to those of inferior social status
-submissive to those of higher status
-rigid in opinions and beliefs
-holding traditional (right wing) views
-prejudiced against minority views

Question 3

what did Adorno propose was the cause of developing an authoritarian personality?

Answer 3

having a very strict upbringing with overly harsh and critical parents

Question 4

Adorno 1950 F-scale study method

Answer 4

he administered the F-scale questionnaire to 2000 american ppts from all different ages and professions to measure traits of authoritarianism
-also conducted clinical interviews about aspects of their childhoods
-these two measures were correlated

Question 5

results of Adorno’s F-scale study

Answer 5

he identified a particular set of characteristics
he found a strong link between authoritarianism and prejudiced views

Question 6

A03 authoritarian personality theory
supporting evidence point

Answer 6

this personality may be associated with obedience
Elms and Milgram 1966 found ppts who were more obedient scored highly on the F-scale questionnaire than those who were disobedient
-rigid in their beliefs and opinions, holding traditional views
-however these findings suggest there could be a link to childhood experiences- no cause and effect established just a link
-the research could have validity

Question 7

A03 authoritarian personality theory
opposing evidence/ objection point

Answer 7

this explanation cannot account for prejudice on a large scale
e.g. levels of antisemitism demonstrated during the Holocaust
-this theory suggests obedience is down to dispositional- personality types
-however obedience is down to both situational and dispositional explanations
therefore situational factors need to be considered in large scale obedience

Question 8

A03 authoritarian personality theory
determinism point

Answer 8

it is a deterministic explanation
-suggests obedience is down to personality and childhood experiences
-psychic determinism- shapes our behaviour from a harsh or critical upbringing from parents
therefore, if we accept authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience, we need to consider the potential implications it raises

Question 9

A03 authoritarian personality theory
application point

Answer 9

we can see evidence of authoritarianism in real world political events
e.g. donald trump’s rise in popularity and election as president- he gained high levels of support
-he appeals to those that demonstrate authoritarianism.