A03

• Point: One strength is evidence from Milgram supporting the Authoritarian Personality.

  Evidence: Milgram and Elms (1966) interviewed participants from the original obedience studies who were fully obedient, using the F-scale.

  Explain: They found that obedient participants scored significantly higher on the F-scale, indicating authoritarian tendencies

  Link: Therefore, this suggests that authoritarian traits may contribute to obedience behaviours, supporting the Authoritarian Personality theory.
• Point: However, a limitation arises as obedient participants displayed characteristics inconsistent with the typical Authoritarian Personality.

  Evidence: Obedient participants lacked certain traits associated with authoritarianism, such as glorification of fathers and hostile attitudes towards mothers.

  Explain: This complexity suggests that authoritarianism alone may not be a reliable predictor of obedience.

  Link: Thus, this limitation challenges the simplistic association between obedience and authoritarianism proposed by the Authoritarian Personality theory.
• Point: One limitation is that authoritarianism fails to explain obedient behaviour in entire populations.

  Evidence: Pre-war Germany exhibited widespread obedient and anti-Semitic behaviour, despite the fact that we would expect a diverse range of personalities amongst the population.

  Explain: Instead, a social identity theory approach may be more appropriate as German people socially identified with the anti-Semitic Nazi state.

  Link: Therefore, an alternative explanation may offer a more comprehensive understanding of obedience in such contexts.
• Point: Another limitation is the F-scale's narrow focus on extreme right-wing ideology.

  Evidence: Christie and Jahoda (1954) argued that the F-scale overlooks left-wing authoritarianism and its similarities with right-wing ideologies.

  Explain: For instance, extreme right-wing and extreme left-wing ideologies both emphasise the importance of complete obedience to political authority.

  Link: Thus, this limitation suggests that the Authoritarian Personality theory may not provide a complete explanation for obedience to authority, particularly in politically diverse contexts.