P1 Social Influence: Topic 7: Dispositional explanations of obedience

Question 1

What do dispositional factors mean?

Answer 1

Some humans are more disposed/likely to be obedient than others due to their innate personality.

Question 2

What is one specific example of a dispositional explanation of obedience?

Answer 2

The Authoritarian Personality.

Question 3

What is the Authoritarian Personality theory?

Answer 3

It is defined as a distinct personality pattern characterised by strict adherence to conventional values and beliefs in absolute obedience or submission to authority.

Question 4

What did Adorno use to measure the different components of personality that make up Authoritarian Personality?

Answer 4

During research in to German soldiers after WW2, and to understand anti-Semitism:

• He used a scale called the F (Fascist) scale.

Question 5

What are traits of a person with Authoritarian Personality?

Answer 5

• Extreme respect for authority.
• Believing society is becoming weaker than it was, and so the need for strong powerful leaders.
• A love of country & family.
• Identification with strong people.
• Contemptuous (looks down upon) of the ‘weak’.
• Conscious of their own and others’ status.
• Show extreme respect and service to those of higher status, thus why they are obedient.

Question 6

Where does the AP come from?

Answer 6

• Harsh, punitive parenting.
• Parents expect loyalty and have high standards.
• They criticize children for percieved failings and give conditional love.

Question 7

Why does AP come about from strict, punitive parenting?

Answer 7

• Child feels resentment and hostility, but child cannot express feelings towards parents, due to fear of punishment.
• Their fears are displaced onto other, weaker members of society (inferior, minorities).
• Called the psychodynamic explanation.

Question 8

What was Adorno’s Procedure for research using the F-Scale?

Answer 8

• Studied 2000 middle-class white Americans.
• F-Scale measured personality & unconscious attitudes to other ethnic groups.

Question 9

What are some example questions on Adorno’s F-Scale?

Answer 9

• “Obedience & respect for authority are the most important virtues for kids to learn”.
• “Homosexuales are no worse than criminals and should be punished”.

Question 10

What were Adorno’s findings from his research using the F-Scale?

Answer 10

Those with authoritarian personalities (high score):

• Identify with strong people & look down on the weak.
• Are conscious of their own satus in society and show extreme respect & service to those of a high status.
• Have ‘black and white’ thinking, people are good or bad.