The authoritarian personality 1950, reissued 1982, by theodor adorno and university of californiaberkeley psychologists else frenkelbrunswik, daniel levinson and nevitt sanford. Authoritarian personalities often develop from an upbringing of rigid discipline and conditional affection. Authoritarian personality an overview sciencedirect topics. The authoritarian personality 1950, reissued 1982, by theodor adorno and university of. 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 of six million jews and others. Authoritarian personality definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Methodological and conceptual criticisms of the original theory, however, lead to alternative theories and culminated in research suggesting two distinct. Adorno brought to the research project a unique set of philosophical and social. Western scholars interest in the authoritarian personality originated from antisemitism. The volume on the au thoritarian personality by adorno, frenkelbrunswik, levinson. Introduction at a certain stage of the study, after considerable work with the as and e scales had been. Adornos the authoritarian personality christopher vials. A critical reader presents a collection of new essays by many of the worlds top critics that examine adorno s lasting impact on the arts, politics, history, philosophy, psychoanalysis, and sociology.
It demonstrates that there is a close correlation between a number of deep rooted personality traits, and overt prejudice. Pdf the authoritarian personality is a psychological syndrome. The authoritarian personality in the 21st century bond university. The other authoritarian personality bob altemeyer university of manitoba, winnipeg. This is a limitation of adorno s theory because it is clear that an alternative explanation is much more realistic that social identity explains obedience.
His survey was in response to the publication of the authoritarian personality by adorno, frankelbrunswick, levinson, and sanford 1950, attempting to better understand the underpinnings of fascisms emergence pre wwii. The idea has not been proven by the psychology profession and therefore remains a theory. Viewing this work in light of the frankfurt schools broader social theory, we. Description and evaluation of the authoritarian personality.
The authoritarian personality does not want to give orders. On the authoritarian personality and the academy, see william hixon jr. In a seminal work, adorno, frenkelbrunswik, levinson, and sanford 1950 coined the term authoritarian personality and stated that it was characterised by strong adherence to externally imposed. It seems unlikely that they could all possess an authoritarian personality. Proposed by theodore adorno, else frenkelbrunswik, daniel levinson and nevitt sanford 1950 very detailed, based on empirical research. The fscale was a series of questions that determined how authoritarian a persons thinking was, with an interviewee answering how much they agreed or. Mar 30, 2017 in the early postworld war ii years, antifascisms most intricate, intersectional analysis of the political right came from a highly influential work within the academic social sciences.
Adorno, authoritarian, trump, personality, psychology. Adorno identified the authoritarian personality type as having the following characteristics. The authoritarian personality is a psychological syndrome characterized by deference to authority, aggression toward outgroups, and strict adherence to cultural conventions. Adorno brought to the research project a unique set of philosophical and socialtheoretical concerns that were not always consonant. 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. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. The volume on the au thoritarian personality by adorno, frenkelbrunswik, levinson and san ford, based upon a combination of research techniques, suggests one answer. Following adornos own critique, the task, as i see it, is to historicize the notion of the authoritarian personalityto emphasize how what adorno called bad society in turn produces bad subjects, dimming the emancipatory potential of mass politics. It is composed of a set of psychological syndromes including. Theodor w adorno prisms translated from the german by samuel and shierry weber. The authoritarian personality remains a very interesting study in human behaviour and nature.
The french political scientist maurice duvergers political parties 1951 is still highly. Adorno, else frenkelbrunswik, daniel levinson, and nevitt sanford, researchers working at the university of california, berkeley, during and shortly after world war ii the authoritarian personality invented a set of criteria by which to define personality traits, ranked these traits and their intensity in any given person. They piloted and developed a questionnaire, which they called the fscale f for fascism. Adorno and the authoritarian personality request pdf. And it is the institute which, in its huge joint volume on authority and the family in 1936, first raised on a major scale the question of the social role of authoritarianismthe authoritarian personality, the authoritarian family, and the authoritarian society. Like milgram 1974, he too was jewish, and his work was also triggered by a desire to understand what lead to the atrocities committed during the holocaust and. Alevel psychology, authoritarian personality teaching. The authoritarian personality, published in 1950 as part of the studies in prejudice series sponsored by the american jewish committee, the study of antisemitism and group prejudice in this country has been fundamentally affected by the monumental volume the authoritarian personality, published. The authoritarian personality is a personality type characterized by extreme obedience and unquestioning respect for and submission to the authority of a person external to the self, which is realized through the oppression of subordinate people. Dynamic and cognitive personality organization as seen through interviews. The authoritarian personality, studies in prejudice series, volume 1. Critical theory, the frankfurt school, adorno and horkheimer, and the culture industries explained duration. Pdf the authoritarian personality semantic scholar. In the early postworld war ii years, antifascisms most intricate, intersectional analysis of the political right came from a highly influential work within the academic social sciences.
A syndrome determines susceptibility to prejudice and patterns of belief and ideology. This thesis began largely as an exploration into rightwing political ideology and its relationship to the authoritarian personality proposed by adorno, frenkelbrunswick, levinson and sanford 1950. This was despite the fact that they differed in their personalities in all sorts of ways. Let us go back to that earlier volume and quote, from the english abstract, the. The landmark 1950 study in social psychology the authoritarian personality represents a significant attempt to correlate rightwing political orientation with psychological or characterological dispositions. The authoritarian personality invented a set of criteria by which to define personality traits, ranked. Canada ull up from your memories those haunting, i. May 01, 2017 the landmark 1950 study in social psychology the authoritarian personality represents a significant attempt to correlate rightwing political orientation with psychological or characterological dispositions. A huge crowd of ardent nazis fills the stadium on party day. As a collaborator and coauthor of the study, theodor w.
According to adorno et al, if you strongly agreed with the following statements, you might not be a fascist right now, but you would be the kind of person who would. Authoritarian personality definition the authoritarian personality describes a type of person who prefers a social system with a strong ruler the authoritarian person is comfortable being the strong ruler but if the individual is not the strong ruler then he or she will demonstrate complete obedience to another strong authority figure. The study of antisemitism and group prejudice in this country has been fundamentally affected by the monumental volume the authoritarian personality, published in 1950, which in the few years since its publication has become a kind of classic in american social science. A critical reader presents a collection of new essays by many of the worlds top critics that examine adornos lasting impact on the arts, politics, history, philosophy, psychoanalysis, and sociology. The authoritarian personality was an attempt by a group of researchers to explain the conditions that allowed naziism to gain a foothold in europe.
Introduction at a certain stage of the study, after considerable work with the as and e scales had been done, there gradually evolved a plan for constructing a. Nevitt sanford bringing together the findings of psychoanalysis and social science, this book grew out of an urgent commitment to study the origins of antisemitism in the aftermath of hitlers germany. The clearest influence of psychoanalytic theory, the authoritarian personality theory adorno, frenkelbrunswik, levinson, and sanford proposed that rigid, punitive, statusconscious childrearing practices reinforce unquestioning, dutybound, hierarchicaloriented obedience. Request pdf adorno and the authoritarian personality the authoritarian personality is a milestone study in social science research. Theodore adorno believed that people develop an authoritarian personality because of the upbringing they had as a child.
The authoritarian personality in the 21st century introduction. This is a limitation of adornos theory because it is clear that an alternative explanation is much more realistic that social identity explains obedience. Other articles where the authoritarian personality is discussed. The authoritarian personality is a 1950 sociology book by theodor w. Levinson, and nevitt sanford pdf files at filed under. This thesis began largely as an exploration into rightwing political ideology and its relationship to the authoritarian personality proposed by adorno, frenkel brunswick, levinson and sanford 1950. The authoritarian personality book by adorno britannica.
Donald trump supporters display authoritarian personality. Jan 16, 2017 description and evaluation of the authoritarian personality. The book appeared at a moment of great anxiety for the american left. Political conservatism as motivated social cognition pdf. Authoritarian characteristics origins of authoritarian personality and procedures, findings and a03 criticisms on adornos fscale 1950. Authoritarianism personality trait the authoritarians c2006, by bob altemeyer pdf files at manitoba the authoritarian personality c1950, by theodor w. The theory of an authoritarian personality was an influential though controversial midtwentiethcentury theory to explain the mass appeal of fascism and ethnocentrism. Conceptually, the term authoritarian personality originated from the writings of erich fromm, and usually is applied to men and women who exhibit a. Furthermore this book wasn t singlehandedly written by adorno, far from it, and whether or not adorno realy was a marxist is irellevant since adorno s latter ideas have little or nothing to do with this book.
We will study authoritarian personality again when we look at factors affecting prejudice. Reading adorno in the age of trump, from last summer, remains, i still think, the single best one i have reply notes on late fascism by alberto toscano radical political economy april 4, 2017 at 11. Adorno, else frenkelbrunswik, daniel levinson, and nevitt sanford, researchers working at the university of california, berkeley, during and shortly after world war ii. The authoritarian personality by the frankfurt school figure theodor adorno was a milestone in the medicalization of dissent, aside from considerably more aggressive efforts in the soviet union where communists like him had unlimited power. We will examine the work of gordon allport who also had a theory very similar to adornos, however he believed that authoritarian personality was not just a product of early developmental experiences but also of social factors including the role of demagogues. If their parents are overly strict and punitive and show little love, the child grows up harbouring resentment and hostility towards their parents. Authoritarian personality definition of authoritarian. Authoritarianism adorno et al 1950 psychologyrocks.