dispositional explanations

• What is a dispositional explanation in psychology?

  An internal explanation based on personality factors or individual reasons for obedience
• Who is the psychologist associated with the authoritarian personality?

  Theodore Adorno
• What characteristic is associated with the authoritarian personality?

  People with this trait are more likely to obey authority figures
• How can the authoritarian personality be measured?

  Using the F-scale, where participants rate their agreement with certain statements
• What type of scale is used in the F-scale?

  A Likert-style scale
• What does the authoritarian personality believe about authority figures?

  That people should completely obey or submit to their authority figures
• What cognitive style do individuals with an authoritarian personality exhibit?

  A 'fixed' cognitive style with absolutist or 'black and white' thinking
• What is the impact of stereotypes on individuals with an authoritarian personality?

  They do not challenge stereotypes, preventing grey areas from emerging
• What theory did Adorno believe in regarding personality traits?

  The psychodynamic theory, which suggests traits stem from childhood influences
• How does Adorno explain the displacement of anger in children with authoritarian parents?

  Children displace their anger onto seemingly 'inferior' others through scapegoating
• What is reaction formation in the context of authoritarian personality?

  A process where individuals idolize their parents on the surface but fear and despise them unconsciously
• Who are children with authoritarian parents likely to target their displaced anger towards?

  Those who seem weak and unable to defend themselves, such as minority groups
• What is the criticism of the F-scale according to Greenstein?

  It is susceptible to acquiescence bias, affecting its validity and reliability
• What does acquiescence bias refer to?

  The tendency of respondents to answer in the same way regardless of content
• What limitation does Christie and Jahoda point out about the Authoritarian Personality?

  It may not explain all cases of obedience across the political spectrum
• What does the F-scale measure in relation to political ideology?

  The likeness of an individual to Fascism, primarily on the far-right of the political scale
• What do Christie and Jahoda suggest about the similarities between political extremes?

  There are more similarities than differences, particularly in respect for authority
• What is a limitation of the Authoritarian Personality regarding ecological validity?


  It cannot explain many real-life examples of mass obedience
• What example is given to illustrate the limitation of the Authoritarian Personality?

  The unlikely scenario that the entire German population during Nazi occupation had an Authoritarian Personality
• What alternative explanation is suggested for mass obedience during the Nazi occupation?

  Many shared struggles in life and displaced their fear onto a perceived 'inferior' group
• What are the key components of the authoritarian personality theory?

  • Internal explanation for obedience
  • Characteristic of authoritarian personality linked to obedience
  • Measured using the F-scale
  • Fixed cognitive style with absolutist thinking
  • Displacement of anger onto perceived inferiors
  • Reaction formation in childhood experiences
  • Criticisms regarding ecological validity and political spectrum coverage