Dispositions explanations of obedience

• Adorno et al

  aim:

  • study 2000 middle class caucasian Americans to find out their unconscious views towards other racial groups

  method:

  • developed the f scale measuring facility tendency thought to be core of authoritarian personality

  findings:

  • high scores self reported as strong and showed disrespect towards the weak
  • those scoring high showed excessive respect towards those in power

  conclusion:

  • individuals with authoritarian personality more obedient to authority figure and showed extreme submissiveness and respect with an inflexible attitude
• Adorno AO3

  -individual differences - Middendrop and Mellon - less educated more likely to display authoritarian personality characteristics

  -methodological issues - response bias and social desirability

  -political bias - Christie and Jahoda - only measure right wing ideologies ignoring the role of authority on the left wing

  + research support - Milgram and Elms - obedient participants from original research scored higher on the f-scale compared to disobedient