What is the authoritarian personality in psychology?

a personality pattern characterized by strict adherence to highly simplified conventional values, an attitude of great deference to authority figures while demanding subservience from those regarded as lower in status, and hostility toward people who deviate from conventional moral prescriptions.

What is authoritarian personality a level psychology?

People with an authoritarian personality tend to be rigid thinkers, who are obedient to authority in most cases. They have a strict adherence to social values, and show hostility to inferiors, but servility to superiors.

What is a authoritarian personality example?

For example, if children have a very strict authoritarian parent, they will learn to suppress thoughts, feelings, and actions which might be considered immoral (e.g., aggression or sex drive). Authoritarian personalities are somewhat conflicted because they want power, but also are very willing to submit to authority.

What are authoritarian characteristics?

Characteristics. Authoritarianism is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized government power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers. It uses political parties and mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the regime.

What is authoritarian behavior?

Authoritarian parenting is an extremely strict parenting style. It places high expectations on children with little responsiveness. As an authoritarian parent, you focus more on obedience, discipline, control rather than nurturing your child. They expect the child not to make mistakes and to obey them.

How is authoritarian personality measured?

The California F-scale is a 1947 personality test, designed by Theodor W. Adorno and others to measure the “authoritarian personality”. The “F” stands for “fascist”. The purpose of the F-scale is to measure an antidemocratic personality structure, usually defined by authoritarianism.

How does authoritarian personality affect obedience?

Adorno concluded that individuals with an authoritarian personality were more obedient to authority figures and showed an extreme submissiveness and respect. It was found that the obedient participants scored higher on the F-scale in comparison to the disobedient participants.

What is authoritarian in simple words?

1 : of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority had authoritarian parents. 2 : of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people an authoritarian regime.

When was authoritarian first used?

authoritarian (adj.) “favoring imposed order over freedom,” 1862, from authority + -an. Compare authoritative, which originally had this meaning to itself. Noun in the sense of one advocating or practicing the principle of authority over individual freedom is from 1859.

Who wrote the authoritarian personality?

Else Frenkel-Brunswik
Theodor W. AdornoDaniel J. LevinsonNevitt Sanford
The Authoritarian Personality/Authors

What is ISI psychology?

Informational social influence (ISI) is another type of motivation which is to do with the desire to be correct when there is no obvious right answer. When a person lacks knowledge about something or is in an ambiguous situation, they look to the group for guidance, socially comparing their behaviour with the group.

Which is the best description of an authoritarian personality?

The authoritarian personality was first identified by Adorno et al. (1950) and refers to a person who has extreme respect for authority and is more likely to be obedient to those who hold power over them.

How is the F scale used to measure Authoritarian Personality?

Finally, Elms and Milgram used Adorno’s F scale to determine levels of authoritarian personality. It is possible that the F scale suffers from response bias or social desirability, where participants provide answers that are socially acceptable.

Why are obedient people more likely to be authoritarian?

Elms and Milgram (1966) wanted to see if the obedient participants in Milgram’s research were more likely to display authoritarian personality traits, in comparison to disobedient participants. Their sample consisted of 20 obedient participants, who administered the full 450 volts and 20 disobedient participants, who refused to continue.

How is the theory of personality based on biological factors?

A person is given a numeric score to indicate how much of a trait they possess. Eysenck (1952, 1967, 1982) proposed a theory of personality based on biological factors, arguing that individuals inherit a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to the environment.