obedience dispositional explanation

Question 1

what was Adornos theory (1950)

Answer 1

personality influences obedience
parents to blame for authoritarian personality

Question 2

define authoritarian personality

Answer 2

respect authority
seek a strong leader
Judge the weaker

Question 3

how do harsh/strict parents affect obedience

Answer 3

children fear their parents
when older fear displaced to authoritative figures in society so obey them

Question 4

what did Adorno design

Answer 4

fascism scale, questionare to test obedience

Question 5

fascism scale
participants:

Answer 5

2000 middle class americans

Question 6

what did a high score on the fascism scale indicate

Answer 6

hostile to weak individuals
concerned with own status
respect authority
have prejudice stereotypes
black/white thinking

Question 7

AO3 weakness (self report)

Answer 7

• theory based on questionnaire
• social desirability
• if people had strong views that may be criticised for they are not going to answer truthfully
• lack reliability
• CA: people more likely to be honest in questionnaire than face to face

Question 8

AO3 weakness (correlation)

Answer 8

• basis research is only correlational
• can’t be sure of cause/effect
• upbringing + personality might not be cause of obedience levels
• Middendorp + Meleon (1990) found less educated people more likely to have authoritarian personality