Adorno's theory of the Authoritarian personality

• What personality type did Adorno name that is characterized by obedience?

  Authoritarian personality
• How does Adorno believe early childhood experiences influence personality?

  They shape obedience through parenting styles
• What parenting styles did Adorno associate with the development of authoritarian personalities?

  Hierarchical and authoritarian parenting styles
• What process do children undergo to acquire attitudes according to Adorno?

  Social learning and imitation
• What tendency do individuals with authoritarian personalities have regarding group categorization?

  They categorize people into “us” and “them”
• What upbringing is most likely to lead to an authoritarian personality according to Adorno?

  Strict upbringing by critical and harsh parents
• Why do individuals with authoritarian personalities displace their aggression?

  They cannot express hostility towards parents
• What are some authoritarian traits identified by the F-Scale?

  Ethnocentrism, obsession with rank, respect for authority
• What are the characteristics of authoritarian personalities according to Adorno?

  • Ethnocentrism: favoring one's own ethnic group
  • Obsession with rank and status
  • Respect for authority figures
  • Preoccupation with power and toughness
• How does Adorno link upbringing to cruelty in authoritarian personalities?

  Upbringing predisposes them to cruelty
• What did Adorno create to test for authoritarian personality?

  The F-Scale questionnaire
• How many questions were in the F-Scale questionnaire?

  30 questions
• What did Adorno's study involve regarding participants?

  Interviewing two thousand American students
• What parenting style was linked to higher obedience in adults according to Adorno?

  Harsh, critical, or strict parenting style
• What emotional response did children feel towards strict punishments?

  Anger about tough punishments
• What behavior did children demonstrate as adults due to strict upbringing?

  More submissive and obedient behaviors
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Adorno's authoritarian personality theory?

  Strengths:

  • Correlation found between personality and obedience
  • Research evidence supports the theory

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Correlation does not imply causation
  • Some obedient participants lacked authoritarian upbringing
  • Intelligence also influences obedience levels
• What did Adorno conclude about the relationship between intelligence and obedience?

  Lower intelligence is linked to higher obedience
• What educational level is associated with higher obedience according to research?

  Lower educational levels
• What might dispositional factors like intelligence indicate about obedience?

  They play an important role in obedience