Authoritarian Submission Research Articles

The Dimensionality of Right‐Wing Authoritarianism: Lessons from the Dilemma between Theory and Measurement

The RWA Scale (Altemeyer, 1981, 1988, 1996) is commonly regarded as the best measure of right‐wing authoritarianism. The one‐dimensional instrument assesses the covariation of three attitudinal clusters: authoritarian submission, authoritarian aggression, and conventionalism. The incongruence between the implicit conceptual dimensionality on the one hand and methodological operationalization on the other makes room for discussion about whether it would be advantageous to measure the 3 facets of RWA separately. I rely on three arguments: (1) confirmatory factor analyses showing that three‐dimensional scales fit the data better than the conventional one‐dimensional practice; (2) the dimensions showing a considerable interdimension discrepancy in their capability to explain validation criteria; and (3) the dimensions showing an intradimensional discrepancy which is dependent upon the research question. The argumentation is illustrated by empirical evidence from several Web‐based studies among German Internet users.

The Dialectic of Unenlightenment: Toward a Critical Theory of Islamic Fundamentalism *

The foundational critique of modernity, (DoE), showed how the quest for domination, rooted in the Greek pursuit of control over nature, articulated in the emancipatory promise of Enlightenment based rationality, indeed led to new forms of totalitarian thought and practice. While the (il)logic of capital and the erosion of meaning disposed WWII and its final solution, contemporary global capitalism has fostered wide spread anti-modernist, reactionary movements throughout the Islamic world. Understanding Islamisms is by aided Critical Theory's Marxian understanding of the role of political economy, mediated through Weberian insights into the “elective affinity” between political economy and religious ideologies, and Freudian psychodynamics. Islam emerged as a trader's religion that would enable a vast, flourishing empire to flourish. But a seamless web between Sharia law ( kadi justice) and commercial practices would limit the rationalization of commerce, forestall a Reformation, and dispose the relative demise of Islamic hegemony in face of ascendant Christendom. Between indigenous barriers to rationality, and the interventions of capitalist imperialism, globalization has bypassed the Middle East. A powerful ressentiment has taken root among the marginal, disenfranchised and otherwise powerless who are disposed to religious understandings of social problems, with religious based remedial actions to achieve redemption. Fundamentalist doctrines of salvation and renewal preach authoritarian submission, hatred to outsiders (infidels), and demands for death. The fusion of 8th century doctrines and 21st century technologies, portend greater human suffering. The logic of the Frankfurt school remains as relevant as when the world faced its darkest moments.

The impact of need for closure on conservative beliefs and racism: differential mediation by authoritarian submission and authoritarian dominance.

The present study explores the influence of need for closure as well as authoritarian submission (Right-Wing Authoritarianism [RWA]) and authoritarian dominance (Social Dominance Orientation [SDO]) on the genesis of conservative beliefs and racism. For this purpose, two structural equation models were compared. In Model 1, RWA and SDO were entered as independent variables and the need for closure facets Decisiveness and Need for Simple Structure acted as mediator variables. In Model 2, the need for closure facets served as independent variables and RWA and SDO acted as mediators. In two student samples (Sample 1, N = 399, Sample 2, N = 330) and one adult sample (Sample 3, N = 379), Model 2 showed superior fit to the data. These results corroborate the hypothesis that authoritarianism should be interpreted in terms of generalized beliefs rather than in terms of personality characteristics. In addition, analyses show that the effects of Need for Simple Structure on conservative beliefs and racism are fully mediated by RWA but only partly by SDO. These results suggest a differential genesis of RWA and SDO.

Smiles, Styles, and Profiles: Claim and Acclaim of Ronald Reagan as Charismatic Leader

This paper critically evaluates Ronald Reagan's popular appeal using two theories that have currently regained considerable interest: charisma and authoritarianism. Viewed through these concepts together, the paper argues that Reagan's presidency depended on a charismatic, or in other words, an emotional appeal that fulfills a longing for submission. This longing arises from social conditions and creates a sort of apprehensive, if not fearful insecurity that compels a person to seek out something more powerful than oneself and submissively embrace it as a type of savior or sacred object. This means, in short, that people accept a charismatic claim. Subsequently, the nature of charismatic recognition requires the believer to bow down in submission. The paper suggests that submission to charismatic authority is an example of authoritarian submission, and furthermore suggests a theory that ties together Max Weber's theory of charismatic authority with the theory of authoritarianism in the tradition of Critical Theory

Authoritarianism and Ethical Ideology

Abstract Relations between right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), ethical ideology, and self-reported conservativism/liberalism (con/lib) were examined in a sample of U.S. college students. An inverse association was predicted between relativism and all three aspects of RWA as defined by Altemeyer (1988): authoritarian submission, conventionalism, and aggression. This prediction was supported while controlling for effects of both participant gender and con/lib, indicating that all aspects of RWA are associated with an endorsement of universal moral codes. In addition, there was a positive correlation between idealism and both the RWA total score and RWA aggression when effects of participant gender and con/lib were controlled for. Thus, RWA is associated with a caring self-perception, despite the well-documented association between RWA and aggression.

Authoritarianism, Conservatism, and Progressivism

The concept 'authoritarianism' has several meanings. But its most important meaning lies in the combination of 'authoritarian aggression' (aggression to powerless persons) and 'authoritarian submission' (submission to powerful persons). Reviewing the studies of Adorno et al., Rokeach and Eysenck, we find that this basic meaning of authoritarianism is closely connected with conservatism. This paper presents a theoretical framework to account for this linkage between authoritarianism and conservatism. Our framework derives from purely theoretical consideration, and it also shows the interrelationships between several concepts such as 'authoritarianism', 'revolutionist', 'nihilism', 'extremism', 'moderates', 'defeatism', 'conservatism', and 'progressivism'. Next, the problem of 'left-authoritarianism' posed by Shils is discussed. To consider this problem, the following three points are important. (1) Whether the 'left-wingers' live in a capitalistic society or a communist society. 'Leftists' in a capitalistic society and 'leftists' in a communist society are not in the same positson. (2) Whether the analysis is concerned with the leftists' attitudes toward the socioeconomic system as a whole or toward specific organizations they belong. They are the attitudes to different objects, so we must discriminate between the former and the latter. (3) Whether the focus is on their personality or on their attitude. We should not confuse the problem of personality with the problem of attitude. Considering these points, we conclude that in capitalistic societies, 'left-wingers' may be 'extremists' but that 'right-wingers' are more 'authoritarian' than 'left-wingers'.

Why the F Scale Predicts Racism: A Critical Review

This paperpoints out the paradox that although there is now a considerable accumulation of evidence against almost every single aspect of authoritarian personality theory, the F scale still continues to predict racism even after the methodological criticisms of the original work by Adorno, et al. (1950) are allowed for. Aspects of the Fscale that might be involved in this prediction are considered. Major themes in the F scale are identified as insecurity, authoritarian submission, general intolerance, and old-fashioned outlook. Reasons are given for attributing the correlation with racism entirely to the old-fashioned nature of the Fscale items. It is shown that authoritarians are not racists.

Class, religious participation and psychiatric symptomology.

The theories of Marx and Freud suggest that religion can reduce psychiatric symptomology by promoting authoritarian submission. Previous research is inconclusive. Data from a community survey is analyzed with controls for agreeing response-set bias, social desirability bias, and with tests for curvilinearity. It is found that authoritarianism is not related to either religious participation or denomination, nor is psychiatric symptomology related to participation or denomination. Authoritarianism is not related to symptomology. Lower class position is the principle determinant of psychiatric symptomology. Religious participation, denomination, and authoritarianism have no real affect on this. This particular aspect of the theories of Marx and Freud is rejected.

F Scale Validity Considered Against Peer Nomination Criteria

Widespread use of the F scale as a measure of authoritarianism continues despite uncertainty concerning the facet of authoritarianism it measures. This research examined the relationship between peer perception of authoritarian behaviors and F-scale scores. Only a minimal relationship was found. No relationship was found between the number of authoritarian behaviors on which a person was consistently rated high and his F-scale score. It was concluded that it is unlikely that the F scale measures validly authoritarian behavior as it is usually conceived, though it seemed sensitive to some form of authoritarian submission.

Identification with Mexican family values and authoritarianism in Mexican-Americans.

In this study it was hypothesized that Mexican-American college students would score higher than Anglo-Americans on a family attitude (F) scale that reflected the values of the Mexican family. It was also predicted that the Mexican-Americans would score higher on the F scale because their family milieu is very much like that of the high authoritarians. The sample subjects were 70 Anglo-Americans not belonging to any identifiable cultural or racial minority group ranging in age from 18 to 24. They were all middle-class Catholic college students of an equal number of males and females. The California F scale consisting of 32 items was administered to all subjects. The results indicate that the Mexican-American subjects made significantly higher scores than the Anglo-Americans on both the F scale and the Mexican Family Attitude Scales. The Mexican-American females made higher scores on both scales than did any of the other 3 culture-sex subgroups. It is evident that the positive relationship between autocratic family ideology and authoritarianism found among high authoritarian Anglo-Americans is also evident in a cultural minority group. The results indicate that young middle-class Mexican Americans adhere to standards of conformity and authoritarian submission indicating a need to maintain the status quo and certainly to refrain from opposing it. Although this study employed quantitative techniques which are usually associated with the research of psychologists it confirmed the findings of anthropologists who had utilized different methods. Comparison of the family attitude pattern of the Mexican Americans with that of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans reveals that the Mexican American value system shows signs of Americanization in the form of a decrease in the authority of the male. The Mexican family values on which the Mexican Americans expressed more agreement than disagreement were those of conformity strict child rearing and authoritarian submission.

Authoritarian submission attitudes, intolerance of ambiguity, and aggression.

Authoritarian submission attitudes, intolerance of ambiguity, and aggression.