RWA and SDO scales measure ideological attitudes, not underlying personality traits

Evidence

The view that the RWA and SDO scales measure personality traits is consistent with Allport and Adorno et al.’s approaches; however, both RWA and SDO may be more accurately viewed as measuring social attitudes or ideological beliefs (Duckitt, 2001). The content of the RWA or F scales (e.g., “Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues children should learn”) and the SDO scale (“It’s OK if some groups have more of a chance in life than others”) do not pertain to personality traits and behavior, but to social attitudes and beliefs of a broadly ideological nature (cf. also Feldman & Stenner, 1997; Saucier, 2000). Indeed, Pratto et al. (1994) have usually described the SDO scale as a measure of enduring beliefs. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2463

Categorization

• XREF: Directly unsettles the Allport/Adorno framing of authoritarianism as personality that the vault thread inherits.