Individual differences

• Who proposed the locus of control theory?


  Rotter
• Internal Locus of control


  feels in control so more likely to make own decision and rebel
• External locus of control 


  feels helpless and obeys other peoples orders
• who proposed the authoritarian personality theory?


  Adorno
• What is the authoritarian personality theory?

  Someone is obedient to a legitimate authority figure because of strict parenting and the project anger onto weaker others. This is measured by the F-scale.
• How can gender make someone more or less obedient?

  Gilligan (1982) has suggested that men and women have different principles when making decisions that involve morality:

  Men- ‘ethic of justice’ - what is fair

  Women- ‘ethic of care’- supporting those in need

  -Individuals develop a sense of gender identity (masculinity and femininity) through socialisation.

  Gender stereotypes affect how we perceive ourselves and others, such as women being perceived to be more obedient.
• Blass (1991)(+)

  Found internal locus of control were more likely to resist obeying than those with an external locus of control. Participants with an internal locus of control were especially resistant to obedience if they suspected they were being coerced or manipulated by the experimenter.
• Schurz (1985) (-)


  Found that LOC did not influence obedience levels in Austria. This led Blass to conclude that there is tentative evidence that this with an internal LOC will be more likely to resist obedience.
• Elms and Milgram found (1966) (+)


  Found that fully obedient individuals scored higher on the F-scale measuring authoritarianism compared to defiant participants. 
• Self-report data (-)


  When measuring personality using self-report data there could be arguments that the questionnaires are invalid measures of personality.
• Individualist cultures


  • emphasise the importance of personal freedom and independence.
  • Children are brought up to respect authority and also to be self-reliant and independent. 
  • They are encouraged to be assertive and develop uniqueness as an individual. 
  • E.g. Australia, UK
  • They are less likely to be obedient
• Collectivist culture

  • Exert more emphasis on the importance of social groups. Children are brought up to be obedient, act in a certain manner and respect the traditions of group culture.
  • Obedience and conformity is viewed positively as a way of connecting with others and becoming responsible for one's own actions.
  • Individualism can often cause rebellion against authority.

  Collectivist assumed to be more obedient as compliance is important for group (Interdependence)

  • E.g. Spain
  • They are more likely to be obedient
• Kilham and Mann (+)


  • Found only 16% (Females) and 40% (males) obedience rate when they replicated Milgram compared to 92% found by a replication carried out in Holland
  • Which suggests individualist cultures are less likely to obey than collectivist cultures.
• Blass (2012) (-) 


   Found average obedience rate for non-US Milgram replications (66%) similar to US average (61%) Which suggests, culture doesn’t affect obedience