obedience: dispositional explaination Flashcards
Why did Adorno conduct his research in the first place?
He wanted to know why Nazi soldiers behaved the way they did during WW2
What did he believe about high obedience levels?
Caused by a certain personality type- Authoritarian Personality
How did he conduct his research on AP?
He used 2000 middle class white Americans using an F-scale
What was Adorno’s results?
People with AP were conscious of own and others status and showed excessive respect and servility to others in higher status.
What did Adorno conclude?
People with authoritarian personalities are highly likely to be predjuce towards others and are more susceptible to obeying authority figures
How did the authoritarian personality form?
- in childhood
- due to harsh parenting, strict discipline, high standards, expectation of loyalty.
- child wont express this to parents for fear of punishment so displace onto others seen as weaker
Summary of the AP
- certain people with specific personality types are more likely to be obedient
- obedience caused by internal characteristics (disposition)
- AP determined by upbringing
- measured on f-scale
Strength of the study
Supporting research
Milgram interviewed his participants who went to 450volts and they took f-scale and scored higher than those who didn’t obey.
Higher shocks= AP
High validity
Counter- participants didn’t show characteristics of AP- didn’t glorify parents or have punishment
Limitation of the study
Bias sample
Sample of white American males -> unrepresentative
Can’t apply to other cultures/ genders
Sample unrepresentative= lacks validity
