Obedience:Dispositional explanation

• What does dispositioanl explanation mean?

  internal explanation ie personality factors/individual reasons why someone obeys. 
• Provide 2 weaknesses of the authoratarian personality 

  limited explanation- cannot explain obedient behaviour in the majority of a countrys pop. eg nazi germany- millions displayed obedient,racist, anti-semitic behaviour. (social identity theory is more relevant)

  -Serious methodological issues- proposed by Greenstein- scale is open to 'acquiescience bias'-respondents always respodning in the same way despite the scale of choices.(causes a lack in validity and reliability)
• Provide 2 strengths ofthe authoritian personality.

  -evidence from Milgram(Elms and Milgram)- interviewed a small sample of people who part in the original obedience studies. 20 obedient pps scored higher on the F scale than comparison disobedient. 

  Support for adorno. obedient=authoritarian. 

  expanded our understanding of obedience- highlighted how individual traits can influence behaviour. 
• Provide an example of a  statement which presented the authoratarian personality in the F scale. 

  'obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues for a child to learn' 
• What was Adornos procedure? 

  -studied more than 2000 middle class white americans. 

  studied their unconsciois attitudes towards other racial groups.

  Used a questionnare caleld the 'F scale' in which participants had to choose what statements they agree/strongly agree/disagree/strongly disagree with.
• How did Adorno believe that the authoritian personality forms in childhood? 

  he found that children with overharsh and strict parents would cause thei child to displace their resentment and hsotility due to these strict expectations onto those who are 'inferior' 

  fear punishment+ fears are displaced onto those who are 'weaker' 

  (psychodynamic explanation)
• What does the authoratarian perosnality mean? 

  when you believe that you should completely obey or submit to authority figures, and suppress their own beliefs. 

  'fixed' cognitive lifestyle- do not challenge stereotypes as they have  a 'absolutist''black and white' form of thinking.