As has been repeatedly pointed out in this volume, lack of insight into one's own
shortcomings
and the projection of one's own weak- nesses and faults onto others is often found in high-scoring subjects.
Adorno-T-Authoritarian-Personality-Harper-Bros-1950
lmpunitiveness
29b.
30. Distrust-suspicion, people as 30. threatening; victimization; sur- vival of fittest idea, world as jungle
lntrapunitiveness; excessive guilt - feelings and self- re- proach
Trustingness. Openness; peo- ple essentially "good" until proved otherwise
3I a. Hierarchical conception of hu- man relations
3I b. Heroworshipofacquaintances 32a. Diffuse, ego-alien dependence;
non -love-seeking
32b. Exploitive- manipulative op-
3I a. Equalitarianism-mutuality
32a. Focal, love-seeking succorance
32b. Personalized nurturance
portunism
a. Status acceptable or admirable (economic or social)
b. Moral-conventional: clean-cut, good manners, emphasis on honesty, poise, control
a. Acceptable on grounds of in- trinsic worth; companionship and common interests; intel- lectual-aesthetic approach; "easy-going" traits; social awareness and insight; liberal
values
32c. Genuine object-cathexis 33? Traits desired in friends:
As can be seen from Table 2(XI), the eleven categories in this area dif- ferentiate satisfactorily, on the whole, the two extreme groups that make up our sample of interviewees.
2. MORALISTIC CONDEMNA TION VS. PERMISSIVENESS
High-scoring individuals were found to tend toward a moralistic con- demnation of other people while permissiveness toward individuals is more common in our low scorers (Category 28). For both men and women this difference is quite significant (I per cent level). For men there are 30 posi- tive instances as contrasted with only 4 negative ones ("positive" and "nega- tive" in the sense defined in the last section of Chapter IX); for women, the proportion is 24 to 6.
It is easy to understand why condemnation of people, based on an external and conventional set of values, should be closely connected with prejudice; in fact, such an attitude seems close to being the very essence of prejudice.
The records, quoted below, of subjects scoring high on overt ethno- centrism illustrate a readiness to condemn others on such external bases as absence of good manners, uncleanliness, "twitching the shoulders," saying "inappropriate" things (inappropriate, as will be seen, on a superficial level only), and so forth.
The statements show a great deal of indulgence in what is seen as "righteous indignation" about people considered as inferior. This indignation seems to serve the double purpose of externalizing what is unacceptable in oneself,
? Interview ratin~ cate~ories (abbreviated from Manual)
Sex
Number o f "High"(H} and "Low" (L} ratin~s received b~
Sums o{ instances Level 'of statistj. gal
"positive? ? negative? si~nificance reached
(percentage)
28. Moralistic condemnation(H) vs. Men
3 3
1 2
3 3
2 1
16 30 4 1 10 24 6 1
. . It 26 2 1
. ! . ! . ! ! . 4
1_~1 . ? _ . . . ? . . 2
14 285 1 . ll 28 7 1
11 233 1 11 243 1
permissiveness(L)
29a. Extrapunitiveness(H) \"S? impunitiveness(L)
29b. Intropunitiveness(L)
30. Distrust-suspicion(H) vs. trustingness
Women
Men Women
Men Women
Men Women
31a. Hierarchical conception(H) vs. Men equalitarianism-mutuality(L) Women
31b. Hero worship of acquaintances(H) Men Women
32a. Dependence, diffuse, ego-alien Men (H) vs~ focal, love-seeking(L) Women
32b. Exploitive-manipulation(H) vs. Men
1 . l1 0 . L0
personalized nurturance(L) 32c. Genuine object-cathexis(L)
Traits desired in friends: 33a. Status(H) vs. intrinsic
w o r t h ( L )
33b. Moral-convent ional(H)
Women
. ! l . ! .
3 3
3 1
1 0
TABLE 2 (XI)
INTERVIEW RATINGS ON ATTITUDE TOWARD PEOPLE
FUR 80 SUBJECTS SOORING EXTRFMELY "HIGH" OR "LOW" ON THE E'mNIC PREJUDICE QUESTIONNAIRE SCALE
20 men and 25 women ? high scorers" H L
14 1 14 3
17 1 15 2
1 2
14 2
. m 4
121 132
. 1 1
14 3 lQ 3
20 men and 15 women
? 1ow scorers" H L
10 24 6 1 1: I7 4 5
l! . ll. 4 . ! l ll 3
2 16234 1 0 10203 1
Men
Women 3 J! . 8 3
Men 7 Women 10
1
2 3
13 13 1 5
4 11 4
Men 11
Women11 3 IT3
? THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
and of displacing one's hostility which otherwise might turn against powerful "ingroups," e. g. , the parents.
Furthermore, the subsequent records presented in the following contain statements referring to a positive ideal of how one should behave, the essence of which is expressed by one of the subjects in this group who demands that everybody should have a "set of rules"; these rules turn out to be determined either by convention or by a shallow interpretation of church dogma. The emphasis on conventional values is found in the respectable as well as in the delinquent high scorer (prison inmate; see also Chapter XXI).
Examples, for the various aspects listed, from the records of high-scoring male prison inmates follow:
M4o: (What things offend you most in other people? ) "Just that they're people. (Meaning? ) Oh, the majority are ignorant, close to animals as anything else. I mean dumb animals. (Q) They haven't got sense enough to see things as they are; they are easily swayed, crude, uncouth; they are like a pack. Show 'em a leader and they
will go anywhere. (Are most people like this? ) Records show it. (What records? ) Statistics. (Q) Like in here (prison). The average IQ is something around 50 or 6o. Very, very low. . . . They carry a knife and cut some poor son-of-a-bitch, and think they're tough. . . . "
M41: (What do you find most offensive in others? ) "Well, some people are more attractive than others. Some people have no attraction. Don't take care of them? ? selves. Don't keep clean. Don't have manners. . . . "
M45: (What do you find most irritating in others? ) "Petty habits. (What do you mean? ) I've noticed some people have a habit of snorting or as if their nose is always running or twitching their shoulders or my wife's habit of picking at things with her fingernails. (Others? ) Not being able to tend to their own business, not having sense enough to understand, to know when they're imposing on you. . . . It's changed around here (in prison) now, getting so many of these young kids, zootsuiters, don't have any tact at all. . . . (What else? ) Greed, I can't stand anyone who will take something without thinking about the other person . . . without any politeness. . . . You'd be surprised. You can find some of the politest people in the world right in here. . . . I believe in helping your fellow man regardless. "
A positive ideal of behavior as derived primarily from religious conven- tion is stated in the following records of high scorers:
Mp: (Main differences between Christians and other people? ) "Christians are people that at all times strive to do what is right and abide by God's word. "
Ms8: ". . . and the person who has lived according to Christianity will live for- ever-those who have not will perish at that time. "
M4: (Importance of religion? ) "It's very important. It gives people an opportunity to utilize some of their extra energy, also helps to set a standard for behavior and conduct. Without religion, there would be a lot more crime and delinquency in the world. (Is the world getting better or worse? ) It's getting worse-the younger gen- eration is wilder, 17-year-old boys go out and get drunk; and science is responsible for all this, that is, provides motor cars for them to get out in, they start drinking. "
? SEX, PEOPLE, AND SELF SEEN THROUGH INTERVIEWS 409
In the records of high-s~oring women there is a similar condemnation of people on moralistic and conventional grounds. Sometimes we find a general condemnation and contempt for an assumed inferiority of people which is quite similar to the statement of one of the high-scoring men, quoted above, to the effect that the "majority (of people) are ignorant, close to animals. . . I mean dumb animals. " While rejection of other people is more common in high scorers, low scorers tend more toward self-rejection.
Illustrations from records of high-scoring women follow.
F66: (Why not social welfare? ) "Well, some of the people you see-I just don't like them. I don't think I'd have enough patience to help them. . . . (Why not social activities? ) I didn't like the people. "re had just moved there and they just weren't my kind. (Q) They were too cliquish and infantile. They were silly, always gig- gling, wore jeans and dirty old plaid shirts. . . . "
F24: (Low income group? ) "They don't think fast enough-can't make it. They haven't educated themselves for any line. Most people are like that all their lives. (Maybe they haven't had opportunities? ) There's a way-there's always a way if
they care enough. Maybe it's tough, but eventually you can get there. "
F22: "I don't go in for petting; I can't see necking for hours either. (Q) I've been shocked by the conduct of my girl friends. I didn't think they were that type of
girl. "
By contrast, low-scoring subjects tend to be permissive and tolerant toward individuals (although not necessarily toward institutions). Or at least they make an attempt to understand behavior from a common sense (if not professional) psychological or sociological point of view; and they show generally more empathy. Whenever rejection of individuals occurs, an at- tempt is usually made to explain or to rationalize this rejection on the basis of violation of fundamental principles and social values rather than for surface reasons.
3. EXTRAPUNITIVENESS
Another attitude, quite directly akin to prejudice, is that of extrapunitive- ness, to use Rosenzweig's term (I6), i. e. , a tendency to blame other people rather than oneself.
As has been repeatedly pointed out in this volume, lack of insight into one's own shortcomings and the projection of one's own weak- nesses and faults onto others is often found in high-scoring subjects. It prob- ably represents the essential aspect of the mechanism of scapegoating.
An opposite variant to extrapunitiveness is impunitiveness, i. e. , the tend- ency to refrain from blaming altogether, be it others or oneself.
The differential distribution of this pair of opposites (Category 29a) with respect to overt ethnocentrism is quite significant for men (I per cent level)-26 positive and only 2 negative instances. For women there is a distinct trend in the same direction-I 8 positive as contrasted with 4 nega- tive instances-but it is not statistically significant.
? THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
An "extrapunitive" attitude is manifested in the descriptions given by the following high-scoring women about t;heir co-workers, fellow students or teachers:
F6o: Subject just doesn't care for her fellow workers. "Some have all the PDQ's (degrees) but no common sense. " She wouldn't like to mention names, but she'd like to tell me what goes on. "Some just spend their time gossiping together. " She doesn't believe she should do more than just speak to her fellow workers. Very scornful of them, feels superior and aloof. They don't know her at all-no, indeed-implies she's a very special somebody and could reveal her gifts to them, but doesn't. She de- scribes how she treated masturbation. The others were afraid to stop the children. But she just "popped" the little boys' and girls' hands and said, "Now, don't do that. It isn't good for you. "
F71: Sister president of sorority in high school and of interclub council; thinks high school sororities "stupid and silly-dirty rushing, girls misplaced in clubs. Nothing as selfish and cruel as a little high school girl growing up. Noisy-no atten- tion to business-it was just too much. " Talks about high school teacher-thinks her aspiration level too high. "Too much screaming and yelling-has theateritis-pol- ished and professional-too many students broke down-you have to be stone to take it. "
Fn, although talking about her mother, reveals her general attitude toward people in the following quotation: "This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone down. She's mean and inconsiderate and doesn't give a darn about anyone else but herself. I helped her with so many things. She hasn't helped me with one little thing-I can't stand it. "
The foregoing statements illustrate the tendency of high scorers to blame others for difficulties that arise in their contact with other people or their work.
As was pointed out above, low-scoring subjects tend either not to blame at all (impunitiveness); or they may show exaggerated self-blame, intrapuni- tiveness (Category 29b). The latter tendency was found in 7 low-scoring men and 6 low-scoring women, while only I high-scoring man and 2 high- scoring women manifested this attitude. The tendency toward exaggerated self-blame in the low-scoring subjects must be interpreted as an expression of an internalized, and rather strict, superego of the sort that often leads to neurotic symptoms.
The following is a good example of a low scorer with good work ad- justment who does not blame others for the difficulties which arise in co- operative work situations:
F63: "Money has never meant much to me. . . . Maybe it is stupid and unrealistic. But it is the work itself that gives me satisfaction. I work best by myself-have diffi- culty working with other people. I get along with them all right, but it's a strain on me. I'm rather shy and don't like competition, at least not directly with the people you work with. "
The following 2 low-scoring men are described by their interviewer as suffering from excessive guilt feelings.
? SEX, PEOPLE, AND SELF SEEN THROUGH INTERVIEWS 41I
M42: He verbalized readily' and spontaneously, and shows no reluctance to dis- cuss any given topic. At the same time, however, he repeatedly deprecates himself, particularly as to his ability to express himself. He is quite abusive and appears to have no little moral masochism. His thinking and actions seem to be pervaded by doubt, hesitation, and indecision.
M 55: Subject has a rather pervasive sense of humor which is often directed against himself. He seems to have a great deal of conscious feelings of inadequacy and in- feriority and guilt.
The record of another low scorer gives evidence, over and above the absence of conventional moralism, and a stressing of intrinsic values, of a tendency not to think very highly of oneself:
M;: (Ideal wife? ) "Attractive, at least average. I can't ask for too much there, with my looks. At least as much intelligence as I have. Fairly intelligent, in other words. I don't care about religion and morals, as long as they are not too bad. Her own damn business whether she is a virgin or not. . . . Essential that she be a good companion, keep me well amused; companionship includes everything from con- versation to sex, with emphasis on congeniality. "
Some of the low scorers come close to a tendency toward obsessional rumination about their faults and the mistakes they have made. The exag- gerated feelings of guilt and self-deprecation constitute some of the major neurotic features common in low scorers. They are frequently accompanied by depressions. Instead of aggressive self-assertion, there is often an unhealthy trend toward withdrawal in the face of difficulties.
4. WORLD AS JUNGLE
Projection of one's inner impulses, particularly of aggression, onto others will naturally lead to a conception of a dangerous and hostile world and con- sequently to a general suspiciousness of others. Thus, it was found that typical high-scoring subjects tend to manifest distrust and suspicion of others. Theirs is a conception of people as threatening in the sense of an oversimplified sur- vival-of-the-fittest idea. Feelings of victimization are often connected with such notions. The opposite variant was defined as trustingness and openness, as manifested by seeing people as essentially "good" until proved otherwise; it was expected to be found predominantly in the low-scoring subjects.
For both men and women, differentiation in terms of this pair of opposites (Category 30) was found to be highly significant (I per cent level of con- fidence).
Emphasis on the "jungle-character" of the world1 as just described, a world in which one has to destroy others to prevent them from destroying oneself, is best expressed by a quotation from M4z, a high scorer: "Nowadays it's 'get the other fellow before he gets you. ' "
1 This, as well as many other findings reported in this chapter, is in perfect agreement with the description of the authoritarian character given by Fromm (42) and Maslow (79).
? 412
THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
Another high-scoring man, M57, says: "Hell, you can't have real friends in here (prison), stab you in the back. Can't trust any of them. "
Distrust in, and dislike of, other people is further manifested in the fol- lowing records of high-scoring men.
M45: "Not being able to attend to their own business, not having sense enough to understand to know when they're imposing on you. . . . "
M47: (What dislike in others? ) "Well, their actions, the way they talk. (How do you mean? ) I don't know how to explain it. . . . Maybe a fellow comes up and gives me a couple of knick-knacks just to make up to me. I don't go for that. Some of these guys shove up in lines, go to the show and holler like little kids. (What do you find most offensive? ) A guy trying to butt into my business. "
M51: (You mentioned once before that as a child you didn't accept your father as a shining example which he was held up to you as. Tell me about your feelings to- wards your father as a child. ) "Well, I resented a lot of things. I loved him. I always said I did. I used to have a kind of fit if I was ever taken away from him. . . . I always accused him of being harsh. . . . I never understood him. . . . And apparently this all falls in with Darwin's theory too. "
The fact that the high-scoring subjects, more often than the low scorers, made inquiries as to the purpose of the interviews, as to the basis of selection of the subjects, and as to the publication of the material seemed to reflect the greater suspiciousness of the former. The general resistance to "being ques- tioned" is clearly expressed in the records of the following high-scoring woman:
F72: (What kinds of things make you mad? ) "Well, for instance, my sister. When I come home and she starts asking me questions about what happened and what did you do, I don't want to have to give accounts. Not that I've anything to hide. I don't have anything to hide, but I don't like being questioned. I don't like prying. "
By comparison, the records of low-scoring subjects frequently reveal genuine liking of, and warm interest and concern for, people, along with belief in their essential "goodness. " Examples are:
M42: (How did you come to be a service station operator? ) "Just by accident. . . . I worked part time in school . . . another thing, I like to meet people . . . most people as a rule are pretty nice to me. . . . "
F3o: "I would even be content to call 'evolution' my religion. When it comes to attending or working in a church I prefer the Methodist. However, that is not im- portant. What is important is that people believe in humanity, in each other, and that the force of goodness, of progress, is the strongest force in the world. "
F34: "I always made it a point to sit next to different people on the bus and get into conversation with them. Lots of people think that everybody is getting along fine now and making lots of money. Actually, people have a very hard time. And they are worried about the future. Everyone is under a terrible strain. "
As may be suspected from the last of these records, many of the low- scoring individuals tend to be "worriers. " Thus they assume that other
? SEX, PEOPLE, AND SELF SEEN THROUGH INTERVIEWS 4I3
people suffer too. However, such feelings tend to be rather structured and specific (e. g. , worry about the father) when compared with the vague and diffuse anxieties about a generally threatening environment or a lack of support which are typical of high scorers.
5. HIERARCHICAL VS. EQUALIT ARIAN CONCEPTION OF HUMAN RELA TIONS
As mentioned above, the distrust of others displayed by the typical high- scoring subject may probably be ascribed to his conception of people as seeking only power and material benefits, and his assumption that, in this struggle and competition, the more ruthless must necessarily win out. His orientation in interpersonal relationships is thus toward getting power by associating with the powerful and influential, or at least toward participating in the power of those who have it. Admiration for the strong and contempt for the weak accompany this attitude. Thus, high-scoring subjects show predominantly what may be called hierarchical conception of human rela- tionships whereas those who score low conceive of an equalitarian mutuality in such relationships (Category 31a).
There is a highly significant difference (at the x per cent level) for both men and women with respect to this pair of opposites. Examples of a hierar- chical conception of human relationships are found in the following reports of high-scoring subjects:
M p: (How important is money really? ) "I don't think the best things in life are free. I don't believe people would be happy if they worked for nothing. . . . Every man has a certain ego that he has to satisfy. You like to be on top. If you're anybody at all, you don't like to be on the bottom. . . . I believe in the Bible. I believe there is someone a lot bigger and stronger than anyone on this earth. "
Msz: "Well, there are the weak and the strong. I can't elaborate on it. (What about you? ) I suppose I'm one of the weak ones (said somewhat hesitantly and reluctantly). "
Ms8: (What would money make possible? ) "Would raise our standard of living; probably buy better or higher priced automobile; move into better residential sec- tion; associations with business and fraternal groups to be raised. . . . To those in a bracket higher, except for a few staunch friends which you keep always; naturally associate with people on a higher level-with more education and more experience. After you get there, and associate with those people . . . that fires you on to the next step higher, etc. "
M4: Subject likes to mingle with people, likes big parties, used to have an inferior- ity complex, but now is at ease. Likes to associate and talk with famous people, to be in the "upper crust. " "Well, I've met a lot of people since I've been up here; it certainly made a difference to me. I've set my goal, and I want to be one of them (mentions army and navy people. a lot of wealthy and socially prominent people). "
Mz3: "There are great possibilities there (in Alaska) in the future. If a person studies it carefully and locates properly, he goes up with a town. "
F79: "In the SPARS I liked the training and the discipline and I would make a good officer. But the girls of my type had college educations and I was thrown with
? THE AUTHORIT ARIAN PERSONALITY
waitresses, etc. I wanted to apply for officership. I admired the officers although all the other? girls were interested only in boys. . . . It made me furious to see the great advantage of those who had had college education.
29b.
30. Distrust-suspicion, people as 30. threatening; victimization; sur- vival of fittest idea, world as jungle
lntrapunitiveness; excessive guilt - feelings and self- re- proach
Trustingness. Openness; peo- ple essentially "good" until proved otherwise
3I a. Hierarchical conception of hu- man relations
3I b. Heroworshipofacquaintances 32a. Diffuse, ego-alien dependence;
non -love-seeking
32b. Exploitive- manipulative op-
3I a. Equalitarianism-mutuality
32a. Focal, love-seeking succorance
32b. Personalized nurturance
portunism
a. Status acceptable or admirable (economic or social)
b. Moral-conventional: clean-cut, good manners, emphasis on honesty, poise, control
a. Acceptable on grounds of in- trinsic worth; companionship and common interests; intel- lectual-aesthetic approach; "easy-going" traits; social awareness and insight; liberal
values
32c. Genuine object-cathexis 33? Traits desired in friends:
As can be seen from Table 2(XI), the eleven categories in this area dif- ferentiate satisfactorily, on the whole, the two extreme groups that make up our sample of interviewees.
2. MORALISTIC CONDEMNA TION VS. PERMISSIVENESS
High-scoring individuals were found to tend toward a moralistic con- demnation of other people while permissiveness toward individuals is more common in our low scorers (Category 28). For both men and women this difference is quite significant (I per cent level). For men there are 30 posi- tive instances as contrasted with only 4 negative ones ("positive" and "nega- tive" in the sense defined in the last section of Chapter IX); for women, the proportion is 24 to 6.
It is easy to understand why condemnation of people, based on an external and conventional set of values, should be closely connected with prejudice; in fact, such an attitude seems close to being the very essence of prejudice.
The records, quoted below, of subjects scoring high on overt ethno- centrism illustrate a readiness to condemn others on such external bases as absence of good manners, uncleanliness, "twitching the shoulders," saying "inappropriate" things (inappropriate, as will be seen, on a superficial level only), and so forth.
The statements show a great deal of indulgence in what is seen as "righteous indignation" about people considered as inferior. This indignation seems to serve the double purpose of externalizing what is unacceptable in oneself,
? Interview ratin~ cate~ories (abbreviated from Manual)
Sex
Number o f "High"(H} and "Low" (L} ratin~s received b~
Sums o{ instances Level 'of statistj. gal
"positive? ? negative? si~nificance reached
(percentage)
28. Moralistic condemnation(H) vs. Men
3 3
1 2
3 3
2 1
16 30 4 1 10 24 6 1
. . It 26 2 1
. ! . ! . ! ! . 4
1_~1 . ? _ . . . ? . . 2
14 285 1 . ll 28 7 1
11 233 1 11 243 1
permissiveness(L)
29a. Extrapunitiveness(H) \"S? impunitiveness(L)
29b. Intropunitiveness(L)
30. Distrust-suspicion(H) vs. trustingness
Women
Men Women
Men Women
Men Women
31a. Hierarchical conception(H) vs. Men equalitarianism-mutuality(L) Women
31b. Hero worship of acquaintances(H) Men Women
32a. Dependence, diffuse, ego-alien Men (H) vs~ focal, love-seeking(L) Women
32b. Exploitive-manipulation(H) vs. Men
1 . l1 0 . L0
personalized nurturance(L) 32c. Genuine object-cathexis(L)
Traits desired in friends: 33a. Status(H) vs. intrinsic
w o r t h ( L )
33b. Moral-convent ional(H)
Women
. ! l . ! .
3 3
3 1
1 0
TABLE 2 (XI)
INTERVIEW RATINGS ON ATTITUDE TOWARD PEOPLE
FUR 80 SUBJECTS SOORING EXTRFMELY "HIGH" OR "LOW" ON THE E'mNIC PREJUDICE QUESTIONNAIRE SCALE
20 men and 25 women ? high scorers" H L
14 1 14 3
17 1 15 2
1 2
14 2
. m 4
121 132
. 1 1
14 3 lQ 3
20 men and 15 women
? 1ow scorers" H L
10 24 6 1 1: I7 4 5
l! . ll. 4 . ! l ll 3
2 16234 1 0 10203 1
Men
Women 3 J! . 8 3
Men 7 Women 10
1
2 3
13 13 1 5
4 11 4
Men 11
Women11 3 IT3
? THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
and of displacing one's hostility which otherwise might turn against powerful "ingroups," e. g. , the parents.
Furthermore, the subsequent records presented in the following contain statements referring to a positive ideal of how one should behave, the essence of which is expressed by one of the subjects in this group who demands that everybody should have a "set of rules"; these rules turn out to be determined either by convention or by a shallow interpretation of church dogma. The emphasis on conventional values is found in the respectable as well as in the delinquent high scorer (prison inmate; see also Chapter XXI).
Examples, for the various aspects listed, from the records of high-scoring male prison inmates follow:
M4o: (What things offend you most in other people? ) "Just that they're people. (Meaning? ) Oh, the majority are ignorant, close to animals as anything else. I mean dumb animals. (Q) They haven't got sense enough to see things as they are; they are easily swayed, crude, uncouth; they are like a pack. Show 'em a leader and they
will go anywhere. (Are most people like this? ) Records show it. (What records? ) Statistics. (Q) Like in here (prison). The average IQ is something around 50 or 6o. Very, very low. . . . They carry a knife and cut some poor son-of-a-bitch, and think they're tough. . . . "
M41: (What do you find most offensive in others? ) "Well, some people are more attractive than others. Some people have no attraction. Don't take care of them? ? selves. Don't keep clean. Don't have manners. . . . "
M45: (What do you find most irritating in others? ) "Petty habits. (What do you mean? ) I've noticed some people have a habit of snorting or as if their nose is always running or twitching their shoulders or my wife's habit of picking at things with her fingernails. (Others? ) Not being able to tend to their own business, not having sense enough to understand, to know when they're imposing on you. . . . It's changed around here (in prison) now, getting so many of these young kids, zootsuiters, don't have any tact at all. . . . (What else? ) Greed, I can't stand anyone who will take something without thinking about the other person . . . without any politeness. . . . You'd be surprised. You can find some of the politest people in the world right in here. . . . I believe in helping your fellow man regardless. "
A positive ideal of behavior as derived primarily from religious conven- tion is stated in the following records of high scorers:
Mp: (Main differences between Christians and other people? ) "Christians are people that at all times strive to do what is right and abide by God's word. "
Ms8: ". . . and the person who has lived according to Christianity will live for- ever-those who have not will perish at that time. "
M4: (Importance of religion? ) "It's very important. It gives people an opportunity to utilize some of their extra energy, also helps to set a standard for behavior and conduct. Without religion, there would be a lot more crime and delinquency in the world. (Is the world getting better or worse? ) It's getting worse-the younger gen- eration is wilder, 17-year-old boys go out and get drunk; and science is responsible for all this, that is, provides motor cars for them to get out in, they start drinking. "
? SEX, PEOPLE, AND SELF SEEN THROUGH INTERVIEWS 409
In the records of high-s~oring women there is a similar condemnation of people on moralistic and conventional grounds. Sometimes we find a general condemnation and contempt for an assumed inferiority of people which is quite similar to the statement of one of the high-scoring men, quoted above, to the effect that the "majority (of people) are ignorant, close to animals. . . I mean dumb animals. " While rejection of other people is more common in high scorers, low scorers tend more toward self-rejection.
Illustrations from records of high-scoring women follow.
F66: (Why not social welfare? ) "Well, some of the people you see-I just don't like them. I don't think I'd have enough patience to help them. . . . (Why not social activities? ) I didn't like the people. "re had just moved there and they just weren't my kind. (Q) They were too cliquish and infantile. They were silly, always gig- gling, wore jeans and dirty old plaid shirts. . . . "
F24: (Low income group? ) "They don't think fast enough-can't make it. They haven't educated themselves for any line. Most people are like that all their lives. (Maybe they haven't had opportunities? ) There's a way-there's always a way if
they care enough. Maybe it's tough, but eventually you can get there. "
F22: "I don't go in for petting; I can't see necking for hours either. (Q) I've been shocked by the conduct of my girl friends. I didn't think they were that type of
girl. "
By contrast, low-scoring subjects tend to be permissive and tolerant toward individuals (although not necessarily toward institutions). Or at least they make an attempt to understand behavior from a common sense (if not professional) psychological or sociological point of view; and they show generally more empathy. Whenever rejection of individuals occurs, an at- tempt is usually made to explain or to rationalize this rejection on the basis of violation of fundamental principles and social values rather than for surface reasons.
3. EXTRAPUNITIVENESS
Another attitude, quite directly akin to prejudice, is that of extrapunitive- ness, to use Rosenzweig's term (I6), i. e. , a tendency to blame other people rather than oneself.
As has been repeatedly pointed out in this volume, lack of insight into one's own shortcomings and the projection of one's own weak- nesses and faults onto others is often found in high-scoring subjects. It prob- ably represents the essential aspect of the mechanism of scapegoating.
An opposite variant to extrapunitiveness is impunitiveness, i. e. , the tend- ency to refrain from blaming altogether, be it others or oneself.
The differential distribution of this pair of opposites (Category 29a) with respect to overt ethnocentrism is quite significant for men (I per cent level)-26 positive and only 2 negative instances. For women there is a distinct trend in the same direction-I 8 positive as contrasted with 4 nega- tive instances-but it is not statistically significant.
? THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
An "extrapunitive" attitude is manifested in the descriptions given by the following high-scoring women about t;heir co-workers, fellow students or teachers:
F6o: Subject just doesn't care for her fellow workers. "Some have all the PDQ's (degrees) but no common sense. " She wouldn't like to mention names, but she'd like to tell me what goes on. "Some just spend their time gossiping together. " She doesn't believe she should do more than just speak to her fellow workers. Very scornful of them, feels superior and aloof. They don't know her at all-no, indeed-implies she's a very special somebody and could reveal her gifts to them, but doesn't. She de- scribes how she treated masturbation. The others were afraid to stop the children. But she just "popped" the little boys' and girls' hands and said, "Now, don't do that. It isn't good for you. "
F71: Sister president of sorority in high school and of interclub council; thinks high school sororities "stupid and silly-dirty rushing, girls misplaced in clubs. Nothing as selfish and cruel as a little high school girl growing up. Noisy-no atten- tion to business-it was just too much. " Talks about high school teacher-thinks her aspiration level too high. "Too much screaming and yelling-has theateritis-pol- ished and professional-too many students broke down-you have to be stone to take it. "
Fn, although talking about her mother, reveals her general attitude toward people in the following quotation: "This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone down. She's mean and inconsiderate and doesn't give a darn about anyone else but herself. I helped her with so many things. She hasn't helped me with one little thing-I can't stand it. "
The foregoing statements illustrate the tendency of high scorers to blame others for difficulties that arise in their contact with other people or their work.
As was pointed out above, low-scoring subjects tend either not to blame at all (impunitiveness); or they may show exaggerated self-blame, intrapuni- tiveness (Category 29b). The latter tendency was found in 7 low-scoring men and 6 low-scoring women, while only I high-scoring man and 2 high- scoring women manifested this attitude. The tendency toward exaggerated self-blame in the low-scoring subjects must be interpreted as an expression of an internalized, and rather strict, superego of the sort that often leads to neurotic symptoms.
The following is a good example of a low scorer with good work ad- justment who does not blame others for the difficulties which arise in co- operative work situations:
F63: "Money has never meant much to me. . . . Maybe it is stupid and unrealistic. But it is the work itself that gives me satisfaction. I work best by myself-have diffi- culty working with other people. I get along with them all right, but it's a strain on me. I'm rather shy and don't like competition, at least not directly with the people you work with. "
The following 2 low-scoring men are described by their interviewer as suffering from excessive guilt feelings.
? SEX, PEOPLE, AND SELF SEEN THROUGH INTERVIEWS 41I
M42: He verbalized readily' and spontaneously, and shows no reluctance to dis- cuss any given topic. At the same time, however, he repeatedly deprecates himself, particularly as to his ability to express himself. He is quite abusive and appears to have no little moral masochism. His thinking and actions seem to be pervaded by doubt, hesitation, and indecision.
M 55: Subject has a rather pervasive sense of humor which is often directed against himself. He seems to have a great deal of conscious feelings of inadequacy and in- feriority and guilt.
The record of another low scorer gives evidence, over and above the absence of conventional moralism, and a stressing of intrinsic values, of a tendency not to think very highly of oneself:
M;: (Ideal wife? ) "Attractive, at least average. I can't ask for too much there, with my looks. At least as much intelligence as I have. Fairly intelligent, in other words. I don't care about religion and morals, as long as they are not too bad. Her own damn business whether she is a virgin or not. . . . Essential that she be a good companion, keep me well amused; companionship includes everything from con- versation to sex, with emphasis on congeniality. "
Some of the low scorers come close to a tendency toward obsessional rumination about their faults and the mistakes they have made. The exag- gerated feelings of guilt and self-deprecation constitute some of the major neurotic features common in low scorers. They are frequently accompanied by depressions. Instead of aggressive self-assertion, there is often an unhealthy trend toward withdrawal in the face of difficulties.
4. WORLD AS JUNGLE
Projection of one's inner impulses, particularly of aggression, onto others will naturally lead to a conception of a dangerous and hostile world and con- sequently to a general suspiciousness of others. Thus, it was found that typical high-scoring subjects tend to manifest distrust and suspicion of others. Theirs is a conception of people as threatening in the sense of an oversimplified sur- vival-of-the-fittest idea. Feelings of victimization are often connected with such notions. The opposite variant was defined as trustingness and openness, as manifested by seeing people as essentially "good" until proved otherwise; it was expected to be found predominantly in the low-scoring subjects.
For both men and women, differentiation in terms of this pair of opposites (Category 30) was found to be highly significant (I per cent level of con- fidence).
Emphasis on the "jungle-character" of the world1 as just described, a world in which one has to destroy others to prevent them from destroying oneself, is best expressed by a quotation from M4z, a high scorer: "Nowadays it's 'get the other fellow before he gets you. ' "
1 This, as well as many other findings reported in this chapter, is in perfect agreement with the description of the authoritarian character given by Fromm (42) and Maslow (79).
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THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
Another high-scoring man, M57, says: "Hell, you can't have real friends in here (prison), stab you in the back. Can't trust any of them. "
Distrust in, and dislike of, other people is further manifested in the fol- lowing records of high-scoring men.
M45: "Not being able to attend to their own business, not having sense enough to understand to know when they're imposing on you. . . . "
M47: (What dislike in others? ) "Well, their actions, the way they talk. (How do you mean? ) I don't know how to explain it. . . . Maybe a fellow comes up and gives me a couple of knick-knacks just to make up to me. I don't go for that. Some of these guys shove up in lines, go to the show and holler like little kids. (What do you find most offensive? ) A guy trying to butt into my business. "
M51: (You mentioned once before that as a child you didn't accept your father as a shining example which he was held up to you as. Tell me about your feelings to- wards your father as a child. ) "Well, I resented a lot of things. I loved him. I always said I did. I used to have a kind of fit if I was ever taken away from him. . . . I always accused him of being harsh. . . . I never understood him. . . . And apparently this all falls in with Darwin's theory too. "
The fact that the high-scoring subjects, more often than the low scorers, made inquiries as to the purpose of the interviews, as to the basis of selection of the subjects, and as to the publication of the material seemed to reflect the greater suspiciousness of the former. The general resistance to "being ques- tioned" is clearly expressed in the records of the following high-scoring woman:
F72: (What kinds of things make you mad? ) "Well, for instance, my sister. When I come home and she starts asking me questions about what happened and what did you do, I don't want to have to give accounts. Not that I've anything to hide. I don't have anything to hide, but I don't like being questioned. I don't like prying. "
By comparison, the records of low-scoring subjects frequently reveal genuine liking of, and warm interest and concern for, people, along with belief in their essential "goodness. " Examples are:
M42: (How did you come to be a service station operator? ) "Just by accident. . . . I worked part time in school . . . another thing, I like to meet people . . . most people as a rule are pretty nice to me. . . . "
F3o: "I would even be content to call 'evolution' my religion. When it comes to attending or working in a church I prefer the Methodist. However, that is not im- portant. What is important is that people believe in humanity, in each other, and that the force of goodness, of progress, is the strongest force in the world. "
F34: "I always made it a point to sit next to different people on the bus and get into conversation with them. Lots of people think that everybody is getting along fine now and making lots of money. Actually, people have a very hard time. And they are worried about the future. Everyone is under a terrible strain. "
As may be suspected from the last of these records, many of the low- scoring individuals tend to be "worriers. " Thus they assume that other
? SEX, PEOPLE, AND SELF SEEN THROUGH INTERVIEWS 4I3
people suffer too. However, such feelings tend to be rather structured and specific (e. g. , worry about the father) when compared with the vague and diffuse anxieties about a generally threatening environment or a lack of support which are typical of high scorers.
5. HIERARCHICAL VS. EQUALIT ARIAN CONCEPTION OF HUMAN RELA TIONS
As mentioned above, the distrust of others displayed by the typical high- scoring subject may probably be ascribed to his conception of people as seeking only power and material benefits, and his assumption that, in this struggle and competition, the more ruthless must necessarily win out. His orientation in interpersonal relationships is thus toward getting power by associating with the powerful and influential, or at least toward participating in the power of those who have it. Admiration for the strong and contempt for the weak accompany this attitude. Thus, high-scoring subjects show predominantly what may be called hierarchical conception of human rela- tionships whereas those who score low conceive of an equalitarian mutuality in such relationships (Category 31a).
There is a highly significant difference (at the x per cent level) for both men and women with respect to this pair of opposites. Examples of a hierar- chical conception of human relationships are found in the following reports of high-scoring subjects:
M p: (How important is money really? ) "I don't think the best things in life are free. I don't believe people would be happy if they worked for nothing. . . . Every man has a certain ego that he has to satisfy. You like to be on top. If you're anybody at all, you don't like to be on the bottom. . . . I believe in the Bible. I believe there is someone a lot bigger and stronger than anyone on this earth. "
Msz: "Well, there are the weak and the strong. I can't elaborate on it. (What about you? ) I suppose I'm one of the weak ones (said somewhat hesitantly and reluctantly). "
Ms8: (What would money make possible? ) "Would raise our standard of living; probably buy better or higher priced automobile; move into better residential sec- tion; associations with business and fraternal groups to be raised. . . . To those in a bracket higher, except for a few staunch friends which you keep always; naturally associate with people on a higher level-with more education and more experience. After you get there, and associate with those people . . . that fires you on to the next step higher, etc. "
M4: Subject likes to mingle with people, likes big parties, used to have an inferior- ity complex, but now is at ease. Likes to associate and talk with famous people, to be in the "upper crust. " "Well, I've met a lot of people since I've been up here; it certainly made a difference to me. I've set my goal, and I want to be one of them (mentions army and navy people. a lot of wealthy and socially prominent people). "
Mz3: "There are great possibilities there (in Alaska) in the future. If a person studies it carefully and locates properly, he goes up with a town. "
F79: "In the SPARS I liked the training and the discipline and I would make a good officer. But the girls of my type had college educations and I was thrown with
? THE AUTHORIT ARIAN PERSONALITY
waitresses, etc. I wanted to apply for officership. I admired the officers although all the other? girls were interested only in boys. . . . It made me furious to see the great advantage of those who had had college education.
