Dispositional explanation

• What does a dispositional explanation focus on?

  Individual's personality over situational influences
• What did Adorno want to understand regarding the Holocaust?

  The anti-Semitism and obedience involved
• How did Adorno view high levels of obedience?

  As a psychological disorder
• What characterizes an authoritarian personality?

  Strict adherence to conventional values
• How do people with an authoritarian personality view society?

  As weaker and needing strong leaders
• What is a common attitude of individuals with an authoritarian personality towards authority?

  Extreme respect for authority
• What fuels the contempt that authoritarians feel towards those of inferior social status?

  Their inflexible outlook on the world
• How do authoritarians perceive moral issues?

  As having no 'grey' areas
• Who do authoritarians typically scapegoat?

  Those they perceive to be socially inferior
• What are the origins of authoritarian personality (AP)?

  • Forms in childhood
  • Harsh parenting
  • Strict discipline
  • Expectation of absolute loyalty
  • High standards and severe criticism
  • Conditional love from parents
• What are some characteristics of individuals with an authoritarian personality?

  Hostility to lower status, rigid beliefs
• How do children with authoritarian personalities express their feelings?

  By displacing feelings onto perceived weaker others
• What was the sample size in Adorno et al's research?

  Over 2000 middle class, white Americans
• What measurement scale did Adorno et al develop?

  The F scale to measure authoritarian personality
• What did high scorers on the F scale tend to identify with?

  Strong people and contempt for the weak
• What cognitive style is associated with authoritarian individuals?

  No black and white thinking between categories
• What correlation did Adorno find in his research?

  A strong positive correlation between authoritarianism and prejudice
• What is a strength of Adorno et al's research?

  • Research support from Elms and Milgram
  • Obedient participants scored higher on F-scale
  • Clear differences in authoritarianism between groups
• What is a counterpoint to Adorno's findings?

  • Obedient participants had unusual characteristics
  • Did not glorify fathers or experience harsh punishment
  • Link between obedience and authoritarianism is complex
• What limitation does Adorno's theory have regarding obedience?

  • Cannot explain obedience in a whole population
  • Millions displayed obedience despite differing personalities
  • Alternative explanations may be more realistic
• What political bias exists in the F scale?

  • Measures extreme right-wing ideology
  • Ignores left-wing authoritarianism
  • Both extremes emphasize obedience to authority
• What flaw exists in the methodology of Adorno's research?

  • Relies on self-report techniques (F-scale)
  • May not accurately capture true attitudes
  • Subject to social desirability bias