Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience to authority. (Total 4 marks)

Model Answer

The authoritarian personality is a dispositional explanation suggesting that individuals with rigid beliefs and high respect for authority are more likely to obey. Adorno et al. linked this personality type to strict, punitive parenting and developed the F-scale to measure authoritarian traits.

One limitation is that it cannot explain widespread obedience, such as during the Holocaust. Situational factors, such as social pressure, may play a more significant role, making the explanation less comprehensive.