Social Influence: Dispositional Explanation of Obedience Flashcards
What type of explanation is the dispositional explanation?
Internal
Why is the dispositional explanation considered an internal explanation?
It focuses on personality characteristics
What type of personality is the dispositional explanation?
Authoritarian Personality
The authoritarian personality focuses on what type of factors?
Internal factors
HOW does the authoritarian personality develop?
Strict parenting in childhood
What are some examples of strict parenting?
Impossibly high standards, severe criticisms of failings, expectations of loyalty
WHAT does an authoritarian personality look like? (What is it?)
Extreme respect for authority and submission to them
How does someone with an authoritarian personality view an authority figure
As superior
How does someone with an authoritarian personality view someone of lower status?
As inferior
How does someone with an authoritarian personality treat someone of lower status?
Direct anger towards them
Who does someone with an authoritarian personality view as superior?
Authority figures
Who does someone with an authoritarian personality view as inferior?
Those of lower status
If someone has an authoritarian personality, how does this affect their obedience?
They are more likely to obey
How is the authoritarian personality assessed?
Using the F-Scale
What research method does the F-Scale use?
Questionnaire
Who used the F-Scale to investigate the authoritarian personality?
Adorno
Who was Adorno’s sample?
2000+ Americans
The authoritarian personality is a collection of __________________
Personality traits
The authoritarian personality are associated with …
Higher levels of obedience
AO3: Research to support the authoritarian personality was conducted by…
Milgram & Elms
AO3: What did Milgram & Elms do?
Assessed Milgram’s participants for the authoritarian personality using the F-Scale
AO3: What did Milgram & Elms find?
Found higher levels of authoritarianism amongst those who were obedient than those who were disobedient
AO3: In Milgram’s experiment who was considered obedient?
Those who went to 450v
AO3: In Milgram’s experiment who was considered defiant?
Those who stopped at 300v
AO3: Why does Milgram & Elms support the authoritarian personality?
Because those who scored higher on the F-Scale were more likely to obey
What is meant by internal validity?
Is the researcher measuring what they intend to measure
AO3: HOW may the participants have changed their responses on the F-Scale due to social desirability
To make themselves seem more obedient
What is an alternative explanation to the dispositional explanation?
The situational explanation
AO3: Does having an alternative explanation strengthen or weaken the dispositional explanation of obedience?
Weaken
The authoritarian personality is what type of explanation for obedience?
Dispositional
Having an authoritarian personality means that you are less likely to obey.
True or False
False - you are more likely to obey
What is the questionnaire called which measures the authoritarian personality?
F-Scale
