Social Influence Flashcards
How many participants did Adorno study?
2000 middle class Americans
How did Adorno measure if participants had an authoritarian personality ?
Using the F scale
What is an example of a statement from the F scale ?
Rules are there to follow not change
What did Adorno find from his research ?
That those who scored highly on the F scale, were strong people and looked down on those who were weaker.
They were aware of their status and had a high regard for those of a higher status.
What characteristics are there for someone with an authoritarian personality?
Believe there should be powerful leaders to enforce traditional views such as marriage and religion and dislike changes.
How can an authoritarian personality form ?
In childhood having strict parents leads an individual to obey those of higher status.
They fear upsetting parents and not being able to express emotion is displaced onto lower status.
Why does Adorno’s study have political bias ?
The f scale focuses on right wing ideology therefore his study can’t be used across the whole political spectrum
What three components did Adorno suggest was part of the authoritarian personality ?
Conventionalism - adherence to conventional norms and values
Authoritarian aggression - anger to those who break the norms and values
Authoritarian submissive - submissive to legitimate authority
What did Altemeyer suggest that the 3 types of authoritarian personality were?
Right wing authoritarian
What research did altemeyer do to prove his RWA?
Wanted to test relationship between RWA and obedience
P’s had to shock themselves which increased when mistakes happened.
High correlation between shocks willing to administer and RWA.
Those with a high RWA were willing to follow authorities with no problem.
What was the research that Erms and Milgram conducted ?
They followed up on the obedient p’s and defiant p’s
Completed a range of personality scales to measure authoritarian.
Found that higher levels of authoritarian personality of the P’s classed as obedient
What are some evaluations points of the authoritarian personality?
Specify situations caused people to resist or obey regardless of personality
Many p’s said they had a good childhood which goes against adornos formation of the authoritarian personality
Lack of education could be more responsible for authoritarianism and obedience
What did Altemeyer suggest about LWA?
Those who follow the left wing political scale would have lower obedience
What are some positives of Adornos study ?
Insight into how personality leads to prejudices.
Takes a holistic approach looking and psychology sociology and politics
