Dispositional explanation

Cards (7)

What does a situational explanation of obedience do?
Focuses on the external circumstances rather than to the personalities of the people involved.
What does a dispositional explanation of obedience do? 
Highlights the importance of the individual's personality.
What was Adorno interested in?
Adorno (1950) was interested in Nazi soldiers behaviours in WW2, he claimed a particular personality was more likely to obey authority than others. He claimed a high level of obedience is a psychological disorder.
What was Adorno's study?
Adorno investigated 2000 middle-class, white Americans and their unconscious attitudes towards other racial groups. He developed an 'F' scale questionnaire to measure the relationship between a persons personality type and prejudiced beliefs.
What is unconscious hostility?
People with authoritarian personalities consciously have high opinions of their parents but unconsciously feel very aggressive towards them.
What is displacement?
People with authoritarian personalities move hostility onto safer targets, usually people who are weaker, and so are unable to hurt them.
What can cause authoritarian personalities?
A very disciplined upbringing: parents (particularly the father) are harsh and show little affection and issue severe punishments.