The theory of an authoritarian personality was an influential though controversial midtwentiethcentury theory to explain the mass appeal of fascism and ethnocentrism. The authoritarian personality in the 21st century bond university. The authoritarian personality invented a set of criteria by which to define personality traits, ranked. Pdf the authoritarian personality semantic scholar. Adorno introduced sociological dimensions related to personality factors and characterological concepts concomitant with authoritarianism. Political conservatism as motivated social cognition pdf. Authoritarian personality definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation.
The authoritarian personality is not only one of the most significant works of social psychology ever written, it also marks a milestone in the development of adorno s thought, showing him grappling with the problem of fascism and the reasons for europes turn to reaction. Pdf the authoritarian personality is a psychological syndrome. The authoritarian personality is a 1950 sociology book by theodor w. It demonstrates that there is a close correlation between a number of deep rooted personality traits, and overt prejudice. The researchers, led by theodor adorno and max horkheimer, used various psychological scales to attempt to explain racism and the atmosphere that led to the slaughter. A term coined by theodor adorno and his associates through a. In the authoritarian personality and other writings, adorno was fascinated by a rebellious quality he found in political reaction.
Not all conservatives, he argued, possessed an authoritarian personality. These traits include conventionalism, authoritarian submission, authoritarian aggression, antiintellectualism, antiintraception, superstition and stereotypy, power and toughness, destructiveness and cynicism, projectivity, and exaggerated concerns over sex. Theodor adorno, introduction to the authoritarian personality. Methodological and conceptual criticisms of the original theory, however, lead to alternative theories and culminated in research suggesting two distinct. The authoritarian personality is a psychological syndrome characterized by deference to authority, aggression toward outgroups, and strict adherence to cultural conventions. Pdf the theory of an authoritarian personality was an influential though. The authoritarian personality was an attempt by a group of researchers to explain the conditions that allowed naziism to gain a foothold in europe. Authoritarian personality definition of authoritarian.
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