Dispositional factors

• What do dispositional explanations of obedience emphasize?

  The importance of personality
• What is one influential dispositional explanation of obedience?

  The authoritarian personality
• How do individuals with an authoritarian personality behave towards authority figures?

  They are more likely to obey orders
• What do individuals with an authoritarian personality think about social hierarchy?

  They are very conscious of their position
• How do authoritarian individuals view those of higher social status?

  They show extreme respect and submission
• What is the attitude of authoritarian individuals towards those of lower social status?

  They show contempt and expect submission
• How do authoritarian individuals perceive society?

  They view it as weaker than before
• What do authoritarian individuals believe is necessary for society?

  Strong leaders to enforce traditional values
• Who do authoritarian individuals blame for societal issues?

  Those who are 'other' or different
• What kind of stereotypes do authoritarian individuals hold?

  Fixed and rigid stereotypes about 'other' groups
• What correlation is often found with authoritarianism?

  Strong correlations with prejudice
• Who developed the F-scale?

  Adorno et al. (1950)
• What does the F-scale measure?

  The components of the authoritarian personality
• What type of statements does the F-scale contain?

  Statements about obedience and authority
• What does agreeing with F-scale statements indicate?

  It indicates an authoritarian personality
• What did Adorno et al. seek to identify regarding the authoritarian personality?

  The origins of the authoritarian personality
• How does the authoritarian personality develop, according to Adorno et al.?

  As a result of harsh parenting
• What are features of harsh parenting that contribute to the authoritarian personality?

  Strict discipline and high standards
• What does severe criticism in parenting lead to in children?

  Resentment and hostility towards others
• Why can't children express their feelings of resentment towards parents?

  Due to fear of punishment
• Where do displaced feelings of resentment go according to Adorno et al.?

  Onto others perceived as weaker
• What does the parenting style associated with authoritarian personality emphasize?

  Obedience to authority figures
• What type of explanation is the authoritarian personality's development considered?

  A psychodynamic explanation
• What are the key characteristics of the authoritarian personality?

  • High obedience to authority
  • Respect for higher social status
  • Contempt for lower social status
  • Fixed stereotypes about 'other' groups
  • Correlation with prejudice
• What parenting features contribute to the development of an authoritarian personality?

  • Strict discipline
  • Use of physical punishment
  • Impossibly high standards
  • Severe criticism of failings
• How does harsh parenting affect children's feelings?

  • Creates resentment and hostility
  • Displaces feelings onto weaker individuals
  • Teaches unquestioning obedience to authority
• What is a strength of dispositional factors of obedience

  Strength = evidence to support  link between  authoritarian personality + obedience. E.g Elms & Milgram (1966) studied pts who previously taken part in one of Milgram’s O.G experiments. Selected 20 obedient pts who delivered 450V shock + 20 defiant pts who refused to continue at some point. All pts completed  F-Scale. Found - F scale revealed ↑ levels of authoritarianism among the obedient pts. Supports suggestion that individuals w  authoritarian personality = particularly susceptible to obedience.  
• What is a strength of dispositional factors of obedience 


  Strength = further evidence to support link between the authoritarian personality + obedience. E.g Altmeyer (1988) found pts with an authoritarian personality type who were ordered to give themselves shocks gave higher shocks than those w/out the personality type. Suggests individuals w authoritarian personality = more likely to obey authority fig than those w different personality type.
• What is a weakness of dispositional factors of obedience

  Weakness = been pointed out dispositional explanations of obedience, e.g authoritarian personality, cannot explain obedient behaviour on large scale. E.g pre-war Germany, millions of individuals displayed obedient, racist + anti-Semitic behaviour.Despite fact that it is extremely unlikely that they could all possess authoritarian personality. Suggests alternative explanations of obedience, e.g role of situational factors, are more realistic.
• What is a weakness of dispositional factors into obedience

  Weakness = F-scale politically biased, only measures tendency towards extreme right-wing ideology. Christie & Jahoda (1954) - extreme left-wing ideologies have lot in common w extreme right-wing ideologies, including emphasis on complete obedience to political authority. Suggests authoritarian personality X a comprehensive dispositional explanation, does not account for obedience to authority across whole political spectrum