Factors Affecting Prejudice: Individual Differences
Allport’s Authoritarian Personality
The Authoritarian Personality ‘Generalised tolerant types’ who have a
An overly harsh parenting style is sense of inner security and confidence
claimed to create a personality type stemming from unconditional parental
that is both highly obedient and prone acceptance.
to display prejudice. This parenting style leads to empathetic
Harsh parents offer conditional love and accepting orientation towards
which makes it hard for a child to others.
express their emotions. Authoritarians think in ‘black and white’
They feel the fear of punishment and so and categorise in ‘cognitive closure’ and
they displace their anger. may be more receptive to political
This is scapegoating. arguments which target their inner
fears.
Social Dominance Orientation
Right Wing Authoritarian Describes people who are motivate to
3 of the authoritarian traits: seek ingroup power, dominance and
submission, aggression and superiority.
conventionalism. They see the world as a ‘competitive
People high in RWA tend to hold jungle’ where you have to be ruthless
prejudice attitudes towards various and fight for limited resources.
groups. SDO is positively related to key
RWA is not a product of early parental personality characteristics and
experiences but develops as a correlates negatively with
consequence of social learning. agreeableness and empathy.
It stems from beliefs about the world It is more common in men and develops
rather than inner fears and personal through exposure to social situations
feelings. involving high levels of inequality and
competition.
Personality: low
openness, high
World view =
conscientiousness
dangerous RWA
Context: Right wing
threatening politicians
Nationalism
Ethnocentrism
Prejudice
Personality: low
World view =
agreeableness
competitive jungle SDO
Context: inequality
Allport’s Authoritarian Personality
The Authoritarian Personality ‘Generalised tolerant types’ who have a
An overly harsh parenting style is sense of inner security and confidence
claimed to create a personality type stemming from unconditional parental
that is both highly obedient and prone acceptance.
to display prejudice. This parenting style leads to empathetic
Harsh parents offer conditional love and accepting orientation towards
which makes it hard for a child to others.
express their emotions. Authoritarians think in ‘black and white’
They feel the fear of punishment and so and categorise in ‘cognitive closure’ and
they displace their anger. may be more receptive to political
This is scapegoating. arguments which target their inner
fears.
Social Dominance Orientation
Right Wing Authoritarian Describes people who are motivate to
3 of the authoritarian traits: seek ingroup power, dominance and
submission, aggression and superiority.
conventionalism. They see the world as a ‘competitive
People high in RWA tend to hold jungle’ where you have to be ruthless
prejudice attitudes towards various and fight for limited resources.
groups. SDO is positively related to key
RWA is not a product of early parental personality characteristics and
experiences but develops as a correlates negatively with
consequence of social learning. agreeableness and empathy.
It stems from beliefs about the world It is more common in men and develops
rather than inner fears and personal through exposure to social situations
feelings. involving high levels of inequality and
competition.
Personality: low
openness, high
World view =
conscientiousness
dangerous RWA
Context: Right wing
threatening politicians
Nationalism
Ethnocentrism
Prejudice
Personality: low
World view =
agreeableness
competitive jungle SDO
Context: inequality
