Authoritarian

Overview

The authoritarian mindset is a type of thinking which is reflected primarily in two particular types of personality:

• the authoritarian follower
• the authoritarian leader

Both of these personalities place a high value on authority, and all that stems from it.

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Research

Research into these personality types has been most recently and notably documented by Dr. Bob Altemeyer in his online book The Authoritarians. There seems to have been considerable discussion of related concepts prior to Dr. Altemeyer's research, however, including the work of Jane Jacobs [W] on "Systems of Survival [W]" in which two main moral systems are identified:

Guardian Syndrome's Moral Precepts Commerce Syndrome's Moral Precepts     Shun trading Exert prowess Be obedient and disciplined Adhere to tradition Respect hierarchy Be loyal Take vengeance Deceive for the sake of the task Make rich use of leisure Be ostentatious Dispense largesse Be exclusive Show fortitude Be fatalistic Treasure honor Shun force Compete Be efficient Be open to inventiveness and novelty Use initiative and enterprise Come to voluntary agreements Respect contracts Dissent for the sake of the task Be industrious Be thrifty Invest for productive purposes Collaborate easily with strangers and aliens Promote comfort and convenience Be optimistic Be honest

(table courtesy Wikipedia)

Note the similarity between the "guardian syndrome" and the ideals of the authoritarian.