(a) Briefly discuss the Authoritarian Personality as an explanation for obedience to authority. [4 marks]

(b) Apart from personality type, outline one psychological explanation for defiance of authority. [2 marks]

Answer:

(a) The authoritarian personality is a dispositional explanation for obedience. This personality type develops during childhood as a result of strict and rigid parenting. People with this personality tend to be highly respectful towards authority figures, which makes them more likely to obey instructions.

One limitation of the authoritarian personality explanation is that it overlooks situational factors. For example, Milgram found that when the authority figure was in closer proximity to the participant, levels of obedience increased. This suggests that obedience is influenced by the situation, not just a dispositional personality type.

(b) One psychological explanation for defiance of authority is uniform. Research by Bickman (1974) found that people are more likely to obey someone wearing a uniform, as it symbolises legitimate authority. Therefore, if an authority figure is not wearing a uniform, their authority appears less legitimate, making defiance more likely.

Examiner Comment: Students are reminded that for a 'briefly discuss' question, they must include both knowledge and evaluation in their response. Furthermore, for part (b), students should pay close attention to the wording of the question, which specifically asks for a reason for defiance, that is, why someone might choose to disobey.