Dispositional Explanations for Obedience

Question 1

What is the only dispositional explanation:

Answer 1

• Authoritarian personality

Question 2

Explain Authoritarian personality:

Answer 2

• Adorno argued that AP is a collection of traits developed as a result of strict upbringing which may have included physical punishment
• They learn not to retaliate in hostile way to parents as it is seen as unacceptable + leads to further punishment
• Therefore- they grow up submissive to authority figures
• Ppl with an AP are highly obedient to those they percieve as having higher social status (e.g. army general)
• Ppl w an AP are very aware of social status + hostile towards ppl percieved as having a lower social status
• Ppl w an AP tend to have traditional beliefs which do not easily change

Question 3

How did Adorno investigate AP:

Answer 3

• found ppl w higher scores on F-scale were very conscious of their own and other’s status, showing excessive respect for those in positions of authority
• this indicates that AP is associated w/ greater respect for authority - plausible that it could lead to increased obedience

Question 4

Weakness of Adorno’s AP - considered reductionist.

Answer 4

The approach oversimplifies something complex like obedience down into just AP. Problem bc there r other personality factors that affect obedience. E.g even if child has strict upbringing - still likely to act based on their own ideas if they have an Internal Locus of Control, rather than be obedient to authority figures. Shows that obedience is influenced by many factors, not just AP. These other factors may protect the child from developing an AP, even if they had a strict upbringing. As explanation does not consider these factors - decreases in validity.

Question 5

Strength of AP - supporting research.

Answer 5

Elms + Milgram (1966) did follow up interviews with obedient and disobedient ppts in Milgram’s obedience shock experiment. Gave them F-scale to measure if they have AP - found obedient ppts had higher scores compared to disobedient.

SB: shows that those w/ an AP r more likely to obey

Increases validity of AP as an explanation of obedience.

Question 6

Weakness of Adorno’s AP - it is deterministic

Answer 6

The concept of having an AP states: strict parenting - develop an AP -> thus more likely to obey. This suggests that strict parenting will always lead to the acquisition of an AP, which doesn’t account for free will in actions against strict upbringing which can prevent the development of this personality.
E.g., some children may rebel against strict parents- would not develop this authoritarian personality, let alone become more obedient. Therefore, this explanation does not consider the aspect of free will in preventing the development of the personality and presents a negative outlook on behaviour.