Indies- authoritarian personality

What historical events sparked conversations about authoritarian personality?

The rise of fascist governments and movements in the 1930s.

What are some features of authoritarian governments?

Public support for authoritarian leaders, conformity to traditional values, and hostility towards minorities.

Who were the psycho-dynamic psychologists that contributed to the understanding of authoritarianism in the 1930s?

Fromm and Reich.

Which group of philosophers sought to complement Marxist social theory with psychology in the 1950s?

Adorno and the Frankfurt School.

What is the title of the book written by Adorno on authoritarian personality?

The Authoritarian Personality.

What was the aim of Adorno's research on authoritarian personality?

To explain the psychological bases of anti-Semitism.

What is a broad ethnocentric pattern as defined by Adorno?

A generalized dislike of out-groups and minorities, along with excessive nationalism.

How is anti-Semitism related to political and economic conservatism according to Adorno?

Anti-Semitism and ethnocentrism are strongly related to political and economic conservatism.

What research methods did Adorno use in his study?

Case studies, clinical interviews, thematic apperception tests, and questionnaire surveys.

What was the demographic of Adorno's research sample?

Over 2000 white non-Jewish, native non-fascist Americans, predominantly middle class, well-educated, and young.

What was the purpose of the scales created to identify authoritarian personalities?

To measure the degree of agreement with implicitly anti-democratic attitudes and beliefs.

What does the Anti-Semitism scale measure?

Readiness to support or oppose anti-Semitic ideology, including negative opinions and hostile attitudes.

What does the Ethnocentrism scale assess?

Readiness to support ideologies incorporating hostility to out-groups, such as anti-black sentiments.

What is measured by the Political and Economic Conservatism scale?

Support for the American status quo and conservative values.

What is the F-scale used for?

To measure the potential for fascism and identify characteristics of the authoritarian personality.

What is one characteristic of the authoritarian personality according to the F-scale?

Conventionalism: Rigid adherence to conventional middle-class values.

What does Authoritarian submission refer to?

A submissive, uncritical attitude towards authorities.

What does Authoritarian aggression entail?

Tendency to condemn and punish those who violate conventional values.

What is Anti-intraception?

Opposition to the tender-minded and prying into personal matters.

What does Superstition and stereotypy refer to?

Belief in mystical determinants of fate and rigid thinking.

What does Power and toughness signify in the authoritarian personality?

Preoccupation with dominance and identification with strength.

What is Destructiveness and cynicism in the context of authoritarian personality?

Generalized hostility and a vilification of human nature.

What does Projectivity refer to in authoritarian personality traits?

Belief in wild and dangerous conspiracies, projecting unconscious impulses outward.

What is an exaggerated concern with sexual 'goings on'?

A focus on sexual behaviors that may be deemed excessive or inappropriate.

What causes the origins of authoritarianism according to Adorno et al.?

Overstrict, harsh, and punitive parental socialization.

How does punitive parenting affect children's feelings towards authority?

It causes resentment and hostility towards parental authority, which is repressed due to fear.

What happens to repressed anger and hostility in authoritarian personalities?

It is displaced towards substitute targets, often vulnerable out-groups and minorities.

What were the initial findings regarding the F scale in relation to authoritarianism?

Scores on the F scale were strongly correlated with right-wing attitudes, political conservatism, and generalized prejudice.

What criticism did Altemeyer (1981) raise about the origins of authoritarianism?

He found weak or insignificant correlations between parental punitiveness and authoritarian scores in offspring.

What measurement issues were identified in Adorno et al.'s study?

Failure to use blind ratings and control for sociodemographic differences; all scale items were positively worded.

What are the two assumptions retained in subsequent versions of the authoritarian personality?

1) Social attitudes are organized along a single ideological dimension; 2) These attitudes express personality.

What did Allport propose in his book 'Nature of Prejudice'?

He suggested that personal insecurity and fearfulness lead to authoritarian personalities needing structure and control.

What was Rokeach's contribution to the study of authoritarianism?

He identified rigid cognitive style, or dogmatism, as a core characteristic of authoritarian personality.

What are the three components of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) according to Altemeyer?

1) Conventionalism, 2) Authoritarian submission, 3) Authoritarian aggression.

What does scoring high on the RWA scale predict?

It predicts holding right-wing political attitudes and generalized prejudice against out-groups.

What is Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)?

A measure of an individual's preference for hierarchy and dominance among social groups.

What are the implications of agreeing with SDO scale items?

Agreement indicates a high level of social dominance orientation.

How do RWA and SDO differ in their values?

RWA values structure and tradition, while SDO values power, achievement, and hedonism.

What did Pratto conclude about SDO?

She concluded that SDO is a form of social attitude rather than a personality dimension.

Why can authoritarianism be considered an ideological configuration of attitudes?

Both RWA and SDO consist of statements of belief and attitudes rather than behavioral tendencies.

What evidence did Altemeyer provide regarding the development of RWA?

He showed that RWA develops in adolescence through social learning and can change with life experiences.

What factors influence authoritarianism?

Situational factors such as social and economic instability or perceived threats.

How does Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) relate to group membership?

SDO is influenced by membership in dominant social groups, with scores shifting based on ingroup power and status changes.

Who explored the origins of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and SDO?

Osborne, who examined how they originate in personality and socialization.

What is left-wing authoritarianism according to Rokeach and Altemeyer?

It involves support for group conformity, deference to authority, and a desire to punish norm violators, which can be traditional or progressive.

In which countries have left-wing authoritarians been found?

Former Iron Curtain countries.

What did Billig find in his interviews with members of the National Front?

Significant variation in views and motivations among members, with some holding extreme beliefs like a 'world Jewish conspiracy.'

What characterizes the core members of far-right parties?

They often hold genocidal wishes and believe all societal problems stem from Jewish power.

What is the relationship between Trump supporters and authoritarianism?

Not all Trump voters are authoritarian, but many of his core beliefs are supported by authoritarian tendencies.

What behaviors are common among Trump supporters?

They are highly ethnocentric, view the world as 'us vs. them,' trust their leader unconditionally, and are fearful of a dangerous world.

What happened to the number of hate groups in the USA after the 2016 election?

The number rose from 784 in 2014 to 954 in 2016.

What is the explanation for the rise in far-right mobilizations post-2016?

Collective empowerment, as noted by Hoerst et al.

What was the increase in hate crimes in the USA following the Trump election?

There were 2048 more hate crimes reported.

What does Crandall et al. suggest about the expression of prejudice after the Trump election?

Changes in perceived norms made it more acceptable to express prejudice towards targeted groups.

What limitation does the individualistic approach to authoritarianism have?

It can explain individual susceptibility to prejudice but not the origin or maintenance of the prevailing climate of prejudice.

Why can't individualistic approaches explain historical events like the Holocaust?

They fail to account for social and historical differences in behavior.

What conclusion is drawn about the authoritarian personality?

There is no singular authoritarian personality, but there are related authoritarian attitudes that some individuals may possess.

What factors contribute to the development of authoritarian attitudes?

Socialization, perceived threats, and personality traits.

How do authoritarian individuals typically align politically?

They are more likely to support political parties with authoritarian programs.

What is required for understanding temporal variations in authoritarian behavior?

Group-level explanations are necessary.