Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices

The Authoritarian Personality is one of the most influential studies in social psychology, yet it has been subjected to different, often contradictory interpretations. This paper argues that the most important element of the authoritarian personality theory is the analysis of the psychological funct...

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Main Author: Todosijević Bojan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Drustvo Psihologa Srbije 2008-01-01
Series:Psihologija
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0048-5705/2008/0048-57050802123T.pdf
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author Todosijević Bojan
author_facet Todosijević Bojan
author_sort Todosijević Bojan
collection DOAJ
description The Authoritarian Personality is one of the most influential studies in social psychology, yet it has been subjected to different, often contradictory interpretations. This paper argues that the most important element of the authoritarian personality theory is the analysis of the psychological functionality of prejudice. Using psychoanalytic conceptual tools, the authors described the psychological logic behind apparently contradictory prejudices, and the function of prejudice in personal psychological 'economy'. In this way, Adorno et al. 'psychoanalyzed' both prejudice and the prejudiced. The first part of the paper presents the original research, with the particular focus on the less familiar aspects. The second part reviews the reactions to the Authoritarian Personality, and analyzes some of the better known criticisms and objections. The paper ends with the review of recent research trends inspired by Adorno et al.’s theory.
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spelling doaj.art-76ee5a5a7bb943b195afd46761157ca02022-12-21T18:39:47ZengDrustvo Psihologa SrbijePsihologija0048-57052008-01-0141212314710.2298/PSI0802123TAuthoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudicesTodosijević BojanThe Authoritarian Personality is one of the most influential studies in social psychology, yet it has been subjected to different, often contradictory interpretations. This paper argues that the most important element of the authoritarian personality theory is the analysis of the psychological functionality of prejudice. Using psychoanalytic conceptual tools, the authors described the psychological logic behind apparently contradictory prejudices, and the function of prejudice in personal psychological 'economy'. In this way, Adorno et al. 'psychoanalyzed' both prejudice and the prejudiced. The first part of the paper presents the original research, with the particular focus on the less familiar aspects. The second part reviews the reactions to the Authoritarian Personality, and analyzes some of the better known criticisms and objections. The paper ends with the review of recent research trends inspired by Adorno et al.’s theory.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0048-5705/2008/0048-57050802123T.pdfauthoritarianismprejudiceantisemitismpersonality
spellingShingle Todosijević Bojan
Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
Psihologija
authoritarianism
prejudice
antisemitism
personality
title Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
title_full Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
title_fullStr Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
title_full_unstemmed Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
title_short Authoritarian personality: Psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
title_sort authoritarian personality psychoanalysis of antisemitism and prejudices
topic authoritarianism
prejudice
antisemitism
personality
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0048-5705/2008/0048-57050802123T.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT todosijevicbojan authoritarianpersonalitypsychoanalysisofantisemitismandprejudices