Authoritarian Personality and Minority Groups

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Questions and Answers

What outcome did Adorno et al. suggest in relation to childhood experiences and the Authoritarian Personality?

Aggression is always directed inwardly.

Over-deferential behavior towards authority may stem from harsh parenting. (correct)

Children raised in indulgent environments show hostility.

Childhood experiences have no impact on adult personality.

According to Realistic Conflict Theory, what leads to harmonious relations between two groups?

Historical alliances.

Geographical proximity.

Integration of cultures.

Shared interests between the groups. (correct)

In Sherif’s field experiments, what was the primary method used to establish competition between the groups?

Group discussions to resolve conflicts.

Mediation sessions led by adults.

Contests with tangible rewards for victors. (correct)

Cooperative tasks that encouraged communication.

What was a key element of the Minimal Group Paradigm as conducted by Tajfel et al.?

Group membership was assigned based on arbitrary criteria. Signup and view all the answers

How did the boys in Sherif's experiment behave after the introduction of competition?

They engaged in name-calling and physical altercations. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of the Authoritarian Personality primarily describe?

People with submissive attitudes towards authority and hostility to minorities. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main outcome observed in the first stage of Sherif's field experiment?

General cooperation and harmony between groups. Signup and view all the answers

What did the boys predominantly use to insult each other during the competition phase of Sherif's experiment?

Derogatory name-calling. Signup and view all the answers

What is the core feature of the Authoritarian Personality?

Overly deferential to authority but hostile to perceived inferiors Signup and view all the answers

Realistic group conflict theory primarily explains prejudice as a result of:

Competition for resources between groups Signup and view all the answers

The minimal group paradigm demonstrates that prejudice can arise:

When groups are formed based on arbitrary distinctions Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the impact of upbringing on prejudice?

It is only one of many factors in developing prejudiced attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

Prejudice can manifest in which of the following behaviors?

Hostility and discrimination against out-group members Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the authoritarian personality?

Liberal social views Signup and view all the answers

Prejudice can often be reinforced through which social mechanism?

Peer reinforcement of stereotypes Signup and view all the answers

An example of prejudice in attitudes can be identified by what kind of statements?

Derogatory remarks about a particular ethnic group Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Authoritarian Personality Theory

Originated from Freudian perspectives, proposed by Adorno et al.
Result of harsh parenting that suppresses a child's basic instincts.
Leads to displaced aggression towards ethnic minorities, creating submissive behaviors towards authority and hostility towards outgroups.

Realistic Conflict Theory (RCT)

Suggests attitudes are shaped by the objective interests of ingroups.
Assumes harmony exists when group interests align; hostility arises from conflicting interests.

Sherif’s Field Experiments

Conducted at Robbers Cave, Oklahoma with 12-year-old boys from middle-class backgrounds.
Controlled for social or psychological deprivation; only stable home backgrounds were included.
Stage 1: Divided into two groups, focused on cooperative activities leading to the establishment of norms and hierarchies.
Stage 2: Groups competed in contests (e.g., tug of war, softball), causing initial harmony to shift to hostility, including name-calling and physical altercations.

Minimal Group Paradigm (MGP)

Developed by Tajfel et al. in 1971 to study discrimination in an isolated environment.
Randomly assigned group memberships without personal background information to eliminate external prejudices.
Used code numbers and group labels to create ingroup and outgroup dynamics.

Definition and Examples of Prejudice

Defined as derogatory attitudes, negative emotions, or discriminatory behaviors towards a group based on membership.
Illustrative quotes highlight derogatory stereotypes towards different ethnicities, genders, and social roles, revealing deep-rooted biases and misconceptions.

Characteristics of the Authoritarian Personality

Described by Adorno et al. in 1950 as overly deferential to authority and hostile towards perceived inferiors.
Associated with rigid, dichotomous thinking about morality, characterizing behaviors as distinctly right or wrong.

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Description

Explore the concepts introduced by Adorno et al. regarding the Authoritarian Personality and its relation to minority groups. This quiz delves into the psychological theories explaining how childhood experiences shape attitudes toward ethnic minorities. Test your understanding of Freudian perspectives and Realistic Conflict Theory.