Authoritarian personality (Milgram and Elms, Adorno)
- Created by: Emilypearson519
- Created on: 13-05-18 08:34
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- Authoritarian personality (Dispositional explanation for obedience)
- Adorno argues personality factors are more important than situational factors in explaining obedience
- Adorno et al (1950) developed a questionnaire called the California F scale to measure levels of authoritarian personality
- Milgram and Elms conducted a follow up study using participants from the original study to see whether dis/obedient participants were more likely to be authoritarian personality
- 20 obedient = went to 450V and 20 disobedient = refused to continue. Each was asked to complete several personality questionnaires, then asked about their relationship with parents, researcher and learner.
- Obedient participants scored higher on the F scale, in comparison to disobedient participants
- Concluded the obedient participants in his original research displayed higher levels of the authoritarian personality
- 20 obedient = went to 450V and 20 disobedient = refused to continue. Each was asked to complete several personality questionnaires, then asked about their relationship with parents, researcher and learner.
- Evaluation
- Milgram and Elms' results are correctional and it is therefore difficult to draw meaningful conclusions about the exact cause of the obedience
- Middendorp and Meleon (1990) found that less-educated people are more likely to display authoritarian personality characteristics, than well-educated people (Levels of education)
- The F scale is used to determine levels of authoritarian personality, it suffers from response bias or social desirability, participants provide answers that are socially acceptable.
- Classified as authoritarian when they might not be
- Adorno argues personality factors are more important than situational factors in explaining obedience
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