Dispositional explanations - AO3

Question 1

What is a strength of Dispositional explanations?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = research support
• E: Elms and Milgram (1966): interviewed PPs from Milgram’s studies, completed F-scale
• E: Obedient PPs scored significantly higher on F-scale (and other measures) compared to disobedient control
• L: This means that Adorno et al’s view that obedient people are more likely to be authoritarian is supported

Question 2

What are limitations of dispositional variables?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = Cannot explain population-wide obedience
• E: In pre-war Germany, millions displayed obedient, racist, anti-Semitic views
• E: It is extremely unlikely they all had an AP; better explanation is they identified with anti-Semitic Nazi views
• L: This means that… social identity theory may be a more realistic explanation
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• P: Limitation = methodological issues
• E: In F-scale, every question worded in same direction; could get high score just by ticking the same line of boxes down one side of the page
• E: Questions whether agreement with statement is valid evidence of authoritarianism or just general tendency to agree with statements
• L: This means that… F-scale may have low criterion validity; not an accurate measure

Question 3

What is the evaluation extra for dispositional variables?

Answer 3

• P: Limitation = political bias
• E: F-scale only measures extreme right-wing ideologies
• E: Christie and Jahoda (1954): left-wing authoritarianism (e.g. Russian Bolshevism) has also led to destructive obedience
• L: This means that… AP is not a comprehensive dispositional explanation for obedience across whole political spectrum