Factors Affecting Prejudice: Personality

Question 1

Describe the authoritarian personality?

Answer 1

Adorno et al:
Harsh parenting style= Child prone to showing prejudice.
Conditional love= child only receives love if they behave correctly so the child cannot express feelings due to fear of punishment so take it out on something else (usually those who are socially inferior).

Question 2

Describe Right Wing authoritarianism

Answer 2

RWA develops as a reaction of fear and uncertainty. People high in RWA seek security through preserving existing social order so are overly hostile to others who defy norms. (Women, LGBTQ, minority groups)

Question 3

What is the social dominance orientation?

Answer 3

SDO= World is a competition
They believe people have to be ruthless for their share of limited resource. They show less empathy and are stubborn. Most common in men.

Question 4

What is the supporting evidence for RWA and SDO?

Answer 4

Cohrs et al:
TWA and SDO were both positively correlated with generalised prejudice. This suggests that levels of prejudice can be accurately predicted from peoples personality traits.

Question 5

What is the conflicting evidence against individual differences

Answer 5

It ignores the role of social norms and situational factors. E.g: in an Australian study, 72% disagreed with the statement white is the best race but agreed with the exclusion of asylum seekers.

Question 6

What is the application of personality affecting prejudice?

Answer 6

Prejudice can be reduced:
Exposure to world views can increase prejudice.
Better regulation of fake news would challenge the view that the world is competitive.