AO1 - Dispositional Explanation of Obedience

• Adorno proposed the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience. It is an internal explanation for obedience, as the focus is on the idea that certain personality characteristics are associated with higher levels of obedience
• The authoritarian personality is a collection of personality traits said to develop from strict parenting during childhood, for example extreme discipline
• The personality traits include showing extreme respect for perceived authority and submission to people in perceived authority as they see them as superior. (1) People with an authoritarian personality also disapprove of individuals perceived as low status and direct anger towards them as they view them as inferior. They have black and white thinking and have strict adherence to social rules and hierarchies. (1)
• The authoritarian personality was assessed using the F-Scale questionnaire by Adorno on a sample of over 2000 American participants. Those who scored highly had the authoritarian personality and displayed the specific personality traits such as directing anger towards those they view as inferior