dispositional explanations - evaluation

Question 1

Methodical issues

Answer 1

F scale - response bias or social desirability = self report
- ppt may appear more authoritarian = answers they picked were thought to be socially correct
- reduces internal validity

Question 2

Individual differences

Answer 2

• found that less educated people are more likely than well educated to display authoritarian personality characteristics
• if this is correct = not authoritarian personality but levels of education that lead to obedience

Question 3

Limited explanation

Answer 3

• millions of Germans displayed obedient and anti-Semitic behaviour
• didn’t have the same personality
• another explanation = social identity theory = Germans adopted anti semitic nazi views

Question 4

Difficulty establishing cause and effect

Answer 4

• Adorno found a correlation between authoritarian personality and prejudice
• doesn’t mean that variable causes the other
• strict parenting = authoritarian personality
• no element of free will