1.1.6/ 1.1.7 - Individual Difference in Obedience/ Prejudice

How can obedience affect personality?

• Certain traits make people more/ less likely to obey authority

How can an authoritarian personality link to obedience?

• Higher respect to authority

• Stricter upbringing

• Belief in social hierarchy

What is the ink and evidence to obedience?

• People with authoritarian personality are likely to obey authority - they shouldn’t be questioned

Evidence:

• Higher obedience scores in people who score high on authoritarianism

• Helps explain obedience

What is the link between authoritarian and prejudice?

• Prejudice acts as a way to express displaced aggression

• Strict upbringing leads to hostility that is redirected towards weaker groups

1.1.7 - How can obedience be affected gender?

Gender:

• Some research suggest women may show slightly higher obedience in certain situations

• Could be: Socialisation women are encouraged to be more compliant and agreeable

• But the difference between M/F are small inconsistent

How can obedience be affected culture?

Collectivistic:

• Emphasise on respect for authority and group harmony

• Show higher obedience levels

Individualistic:

• Value independence and personal choice

• Lower obedience levels

Obedience is learnt through social norms, education and family structure

How can prejudice be affected by cultural noms?

• Often learned not innate

• Prejudiced is accepted or encouraged in a culture individuals are more likely to adopt

E.g. passed down through

• Media

• Family

• Education

Can vary through cultural and historical periods

8-mark model answer: Individual differences and developmental explanations of obedience and prejudice

• Individual differences explain obedience and prejudice in terms of personality traits.

• One key explanation is the authoritarian personality, which is characterised by high respect for authority, rigid thinking, and hostility towards out-groups.

• Individuals with an authoritarian personality are more likely to obey authority figures, as they believe authority should not be questioned.

• The same personality type can also explain prejudice, as hostility is displaced onto minority or out-groups.

• This explains why not everyone obeys or shows prejudice to the same extent.

• Developmental psychology explains obedience and prejudice through environmental influences such as culture and gender socialisation.

• Obedience varies across cultures, with collectivist cultures showing higher levels of obedience due to emphasis on respect for authority and group harmony.

• Prejudice is also influenced by culture, as prejudiced attitudes are learned through socialisation, media, and cultural norms.