Dispositional Explanation

• (AO1) What did Adorno propose?

  Adorno et al. proposed the authoritarian personality as a dispositional explanation for obedience, suggesting that individuals with this personality type show high respect for authority and are more likely to obey.
• (AO1) Where does this personality develop from?

  This personality develops from strict, harsh parenting, where love is conditional, creating resentment & a belief in rigid hierarchies.

  
  

  As a result, individuals view society in terms of in-group / out-group (same levels and different levels) distinctions, seeing figures like the police as superior.
• (AO1) Bring in the F scale

  The F-scale was used to measure authoritarian traits, with Adorno et al studying 2000 middle-class Americans, finding that those with high authoritarian personalities scores showed strong respect for authority and rigid, conventional beliefs.
• (AO3) Support - Milgram

  Point: Milgram's study supports the dispositional explanation of obedience, showing that personality traits influence obedience levels.

  
  

  Evidence: Participants who were the most obedience also scored higher on the F-scale. Those who continued to cause harm were individuals who strongly believed in hierarchies.

  
  

  Evaluate: Since they obeyed a scientist/researcher who ranked 'above' them, this suggests obedience was due to personality traits, not just situational factors, challenging pervious explanations of obedience.
• (AO3) Limitation - Education

  Point: Level of education may better explain obedience, rather than personality alone.

  
  

  Evidence: Ppl with lower levels of education may be more likely to believe in social hierarchies, as have had less experience in debating / expressing views / listening to different perspectives. Also, lack of confidence in challenging authority could make them more likely to obey.

  
  

  Evaluate: Suggests education level, rather than just personality traits, may be key factor in obedience, meaning authoritarian personality explanation may be incomplete.
• (AO3) Limitation - Political bias

  Point: Explanation shows political bias, focuses mainly on right-wing ideologies and its links to obedience.

  
  

  Evidence: Theory suggests those with extreme right-wing views more likely to obey, but ignores possibility that authoritarian traits may also exist in individuals with left-wing ideologies (such as Chinese Maosim).

  
  

  Evaluate: Bias weakens Adorno's explanation as F-scale cannot account for obedience across the political spectrum, suggesting theory is ideologically limited & may not fully explain obedience.