The dispositional explanation for obedience ignoressituationalfactors and says that personality is the most importantfactor in
predicting how obedientanindividualis.
The authoritarian personality
Adorno’s authoritarian personality theory explains obedience as a dispositional trait resulting from strict, rigidparenting, which instills a belief in absoluteobedience to authority and a highregardforsocialstatus. This personality type often leads to prejudice, as the suppressedaggression from strict parenting is displaced onto perceived weakergroups, creating hostility toward minorities and resistance to socialchange.
Describe The authoritarian personality step-by-step
:
Measuring the authoritarian personality
Adorno developed the F-scale questionnaire to measure authoritarian personality.
It includes statements like:
- "Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues childrenshouldlearn."
- "People can be divided into two distinctclasses: the weak and the strong."
Respondents indicate their level of agreement with each statement.
Higherscores indicate a more authoritarianpersonality.
Evaluate the authoritarian personality as a dispositional explanation for obedience.
it has received supportingevidence.
supporting evidence is merelycorrelational.
it cannot easily account for obedience of entire socialgroups/societies