Dispositional explanations

• Authoritarian personality


  People with extreme respect for authority and show disapproval of others of lower status
• Adorno's investigation


  1. Used 2000 middle class white Americans

  2. Assessed unconscious attitudes towards other racial groups
• F scale


  Used to assess authoritarian personality, people who scored high had an authoritarian personality and were conscious of their status showing excessive respect to those of higher status
• Authoritarian personality


  • Showed prejudiced beliefs
  • Had a specific cognitive style
• Milgram's study


  Obedient participants were more likely to display authoritarian personality traits compared to disobedient participants