Theory & Philosophy The Authoritarian Personality | Theodor Adorno et al. | Keyword
Oct 12, 2023
German philosopher and sociologist Theodor Adorno discusses the concept of the Authoritarian Personality, its correlation with prejudice and authoritarianism, assessment measures for identifying authoritarian traits, dangers of blindly following authority, and the origin and characteristics of the authoritarian personality shaped in childhood.
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Measuring Authoritarian Traits
- Adorno et al. developed scales to measure authoritarian tendencies, like the F scale for fascism and an anti-Semitism scale.
- These scales assess how likely a person is to adopt authoritarian, prejudiced views in industrial societies.
Authoritarian Personality's Dual Nature
- The authoritarian personality combines rational efficiency with irrational prejudices.
- It uses calculated control to promote ethnocentric superiority and justify discrimination and violence.
Authoritarianism vs. Enlightenment Promise
- The Enlightenment promised liberation but authoritarianism shows its failure through blind obedience and genocide.
- Society values commodities and statistical utility over human love, community, and solidarity.