The authoritarian personality

Question 1

Basic explanation

Answer 1

Dispositional explanations state the reason why some people are obedient is due to their personality
Opposes Milgram’s view that the situation is more powerful than the experience
People with this personality are submissive to those of a higher status and dismissive to those they see as inferiors
Adorno argued they are especially susceptible to obedience to authority

Question 2

The F (facist) scale

Answer 2

Questionnaire designed to measure authoritarian personality
If agree with statements = authoritarian personality
Physical punishment used on a child by their parents often leads to them having an authoritarian personality
If a child is in an environment where obedience is expected, would acquire similar traits through imitation
Authoritarian parenting style leads to child feeling resentment and hostility, and are too scared to express feelings to parents
Child scapegoats others and displaces their feelings onto others

Question 3

Traits of those with this personality

Answer 3

SUBMISSIVE to those in authority
See the WORLD in terms of black and white
Enforce strict ADHERENCE to social rules and hierarchies
Show CONTEMPT for those they see as having lower social status
Have CONVENTIONAL ATTITUDES towards sex, race and gender

Question 4

Adorno’s study - procedure and findings

Answer 4

Used F-scale on 2000 middle class, white Americans
People with the authoritarian personality identified with ‘strong’ people and held contempt for the ‘weak’ , were very conscious of their own status and the status of others, held stereotypical views of other groups

Question 5

AO3 problems with the F scale

Answer 5

Suggested you had an authoritarian personality if you agreed with statements. But, could just be showing ‘acquiescence’ instead which is the want to agree