Authoritarian personality - dispositional

• what is dispositional factors


  any explanation based on personality factors within an individual.
• what is Fascism

  a form of far right ultra nationalism. Is led by a dictator who is not elected and can not be removed, suppressed opposition and regimented society.
• How is authoritarian personality measured?

  using the F scale which rates someones propensity to Fascism.
• what are the ideas of authoritarian personality by Fromm 1941.

  belief in obedience as being vitally important. respect of and submission to authority. Domination of and contempt for minorities.
• Adorno et al (1950)


  wanted to answer the questions of the holocaust but looking at individual and not situational factors. He studies 2000 white middle class Americans who were given a questionnaire including the F scale. He found a 'type' of person was more likely to obey authority and believed it developed from childhood experiences - psychodynamic approach.
• Strength for Authoritarian Personality

  Milgram 1966 gave F scales to highly obedient teachers in his study, and they scored highly. there is association between authoritarian personality and obedience.
• limitation for authoritarian personality

  Only studies one personality variable, does not account for many different personality variables present in the population so is incomplete.
• limitations - political bias and methodology of F scale

  was developed by left wing researchers. equates authoritarianism with extreme right wing, though fascism and authoritarianism are not the same .forced answers, no neutral option. Difficult wording so people may choose a random option if they are unsure which would make it invalid.