Dispositional explanation for obedience

Question 1

What is the F-scale and who developed it?

Answer 1

• Developed by Adorno in 1950
• Tests authoritarian or fascist personality

Question 2

What were the procedures of Adorno’s survey?

Answer 2

• > 2000 middle class white Americans quizzed
• Statements agreed or disagreed with
• Rated from 1-6, and agreeing was a sign of authoritarianism

Question 3

What were the findings of Adorno’s survey?

Answer 3

• High scores identified authoritarians who identify with ‘strong people’ and dislike the ‘weak’
• These people were conscious of status and showed respect to higher status
• Strong positive correlation between authoritarianism and obedience
• Strong positive correlation between authoritarianism and prejudice
• These people are inflexible in their outlooks

Question 4

What is the influnece of harsh parenting on obedience?

Answer 4

Adorno believed harsh parenting creates authoritarian personalities at childhood. Harsh parenting consisted of…
* Discipline
* Absolute loyalty
* High standards
* Severe criticisms of failure
* Conditional love dependant on behaviours

Question 5

What is acquiescence bias?

Answer 5

When respondents tend to agree or think positively in a disproportionate amount