An Alternative Theory for
Obedience
Dispositional Factors
An Alternative Theory for
Obedience
BATs
• Evaluate the Situational theory of
Obedience – C+
• Outline the Dispositional Theory of
Obedience – D+
• Compare the 2 theories – B+
Situational factors affecting obedience levels
SETTING
Match the situation to its definition
People obey more if the individual giving
orders has greater authority.
CULTURE
People are more likely to obey (or be defiant)
if other people in the group are showing
that behaviour.
AUTHORITY
People obey more if the consequences
of not obeying are more severe.
PUNISHMENT
People are more likely to obey in a formal
setting such as a library, church or hospital.
CONSENSUS
Collectivist cultures tend to be more
obedient than individualisitic cultures.
Situational factors affecting obedience levels
SETTING
CULTURE
AUTHORITY
Match the situation to its definition
People obey more if the individual giving
orders has greater authority.
People are more likely to obey (or be defiant)
if other people in the group are showing
that behaviour.
People obey more if the consequences
of not obeying are more severe.
PUNISHMENT
People are more likely to obey in a formal
setting such as a library, church or hospital.
CONSENSUS
Collectivist cultures tend to be more
obedient than individualisitic cultures.
Criticisms (limitations) of the
Situational Theory of Obedience
• Read p 54 ‘Criticisms of the Situational
Factors Explanation of Obedience’
• Copy the headings and write an
explanation in your own words
• Find out what demand characteristics are
and add it to the glossary
Evaluation: Is obedience really
affected by situational factors?
• A lot of evidence comes from
experimentation so may have little to do
with obedience in real-life.
• This approach assumes that all people are
as obedient as each other – it just
depends on the situation.
• There is evidence that some people are
simply more obedient than others
regardless of the situation. These people
are sometimes described as having an
authoritarian personality.
An Alternative Theory
Dispositional Factors
The situation is irrelevant
The disposition (personality) of
the person is more important
The Authoritarian Personality
• Read p 54-55 – ‘An Alternative Theory’
• Answer the following questions ..
1. Who claimed there was an Authoritarian
Personality? When?
2. What originally drove him and his colleagues
to do this research?
3. What type of research did they use
(procedure)?
4. What does the F-scale mean?
5. What did Adorno think was the reason people
had an Authoritarian personality?
A quick investigation…
•
•
Look at Activity 4.7 p55
On the scrap of paper jot down the
following ..
1. Rate how obedient you think you are on a
scale from 1-10 (10 = most obedient)
2. Rate how strict you think your
parents/carers are on a scale from 1-10
(10 = most strict)
• For confidentiality– do not put your name
on it, fold up the paper and pass to SJ
A quick investigation…
• Look at Activity 4.7 p55
Use the data on the board to draw a scatter
graph to see if there is a correlation
between obedience levels and strictness
of upbringing
Strictness of
upbringing
Obedience rating
Get Creative …
• Using the characteristics of a typical
Authoritarian Personality that Adorno
came up with in 1950
• Create a Profile of an Authoritarian
Personality
• How will your person behave?
• What sort of job might they have?
• What might they believe?
Get ideas
from TV
characters,
celebrities
and famous
people from
the past
Plenary
• Share creations
Extension – What are the differences
between dispositional and situational
factors in obedience?
Homework
• Choose a celebrity or TV character and
explain why you believe they have an
Authoritarian personality
• Refer to Adorno’s characteristics.
• Can this be backed up with a strict
upbringing?
In next
week
please