Allport’s threat-activation insight survived while the single-personality model failed

Evidence

While the core of the authoritarian personality was threat, insecurity, and ego weakness, the core of the tolerant personality was the exact opposite: a sense of inner security, freedom from threat, ego maturity, and therefore the inner confidence and strength to cope adequately with threat. In contrast to the typically harsh, punitive early life experience of the authoritarian, the tolerant person was the product of a permissive home characterized by security and unconditional acceptance from parents, leading to an empathic and accepting orientation toward others, a liberal ideological outlook, tolerance of ambiguity, psychological sophistication, and the capacity to think in shades of gray rather than simplistic, rigid categories. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2431 (#complicates, via linked claim)

In this chapter I will summarize Allport’s analysis and suggest broadly that (a) he was on target by examining the wide variety of ego-defenses that might be recruited to sustain psychological well-being against the relentless nature of racism, but that (b) his personality-based analysis was not fully adequate to capture the dynamic, multidimensional connections between individuals and their groups. These connections among personal cognitions and collective actions, and the recurring role that cultural patterns play in shaping adaptive responses to racism, are critical in understanding the responses of victims of discrimination. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1036 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Allport located generalized prejudice in ego weakness under threat and ambiguity — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2429; Allport’s influence traces partly to theoretical pluralism rather than a single model — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 98; Allport paired tolerant personality origins with secure permissive parenting — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2431 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Allport paired tolerant personality origins with secure permissive parenting #complicates (0.78) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2431
• Allport’s personality-based victimization model misses group-level and cultural dynamics #complicates (0.76) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1036
• Allport’s individualist account of prejudice overlooked the coming group-level turn #complicates (0.74)