The Authoritarian Personality AO3

Question 1

Strength of Authoritarian Personality (Research Support - Elms & Milgram)

Answer 1

Elms & Milgram (1966) found that participants who were highly obedient in Milgram’s study scored higher on the F-scale (measuring authoritarian personality), supporting the link between authoritarianism and obedience.

Question 2

Strength of Authoritarian Personality (Real-World Application - Explains Obedience to Authority)

Answer 2

The concept helps explain historical events (e.g., Nazi Germany), where individuals with authoritarian traits were more likely to obey destructive orders, making it a useful explanation for extreme obedience.

Question 3

Weakness of Authoritarian Personality (Methodological Issues - F-Scale)

Answer 3

The F-scale (used to measure authoritarian personality) is criticised for being biased, as all questions are phrased in the same direction, making it prone to acquiescence bias (agreeing with statements).

Question 4

Weakness of Authoritarian Personality (Cultural Bias)

Answer 4

The theory is based on Western, individualistic cultures, and may not fully explain obedience in collectivist cultures, where conformity is often valued over obedience to authority.