The Authoritarian Personality Read online

  (III)

  Reliability of the A-S Scale (Form 78)

  12

  (III)

  Item Means and Discriminatory Powers. A-S Scale—Form 78

  13

  (III)

  Responses of Mack and Larry on the A-S Scale

  1

  (IV)

  Ethnocentrism Scale

  Negro Subscale (N)

  2

  (IV)

  Ethnocentrism Scale

  Minority Subscale (M)

  3

  (IV)

  Ethnocentrism Scale

  Patriotism Subscale (P)

  4

  (IV)

  The Total Ethnocentrism Scale

  Public Opinion Questionnaire E

  5

  (IV)

  Reliability of the Ethnocentrism (E) Scale and Its Subscales

  6

  (IV)

  Correlations of the E Subscales with Each Other and with the Total E Scale

  7

  (IV)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the E-Scale Items

  8

  (IV)

  The Second Form of the E Scale (Form 78)

  9

  (IV)

  Reliability of the E Scale (Form 78)

  10

  (IV)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the E-Scale Items (Form 78)

  11

  (IV)

  Correlations Between the A-S and E Scales (Initial Forms)

  12

  (IV)

  Correlations Between the A-S and E Scales (Form 78)

  13

  (IV)

  The Third Form of the E Scale (Form 60)

  14

  (IV)

  Reliability of the E Scale (Form 60)

  15

  (IV)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the E-Scale Items (Form 60)

  16

  (IV)

  The Fourth Form of the E Scale (Forms 45 and 40)

  17

  (IV)

  Reliability of the E Scale (Forms 45 and 40)

  A. Groups Taking Form 45 (EA+B)

  B. Groups Taking Form 40 (EA)

  C. Groups Taking Both Forms 45 and 40

  18

  (IV)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the E-Scale Items (Forms 45 and 40)

  19

  (IV)

  Ethnocentrism Scale: Suggested Final Form

  20

  (IV)

  Responses of Mack and Larry on the E Scale

  1

  (V)

  The Initial Politico-Economic Conservatism Scale (Form 78)

  2

  (V)

  Reliability of the PEC Scale (Form 78)

  3

  (V)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the PEC-Scale Items (Form 78)

  4

  (V)

  The Second Form of the Politico-Economic Conservatism (PEC) Scale (Form 60)

  5

  (V)

  Reliability of the PEC Scale (Form 60)

  6

  (V)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the PEC-Scale Items (Form 60)

  7

  (V)

  The Third Form of the Politico-Economic Conservatism (PEC) Scale (Forms 45-40)

  8

  (V)

  Means and Standard Deviations of PEC-Scale Scores for Groups Taking Forms 45 and 40

  9

  (V)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the PEC-Scale Items (Forms 40 and 45)

  10

  (V)

  Correlations of the A-S and E Scales with the PEC Scale (All Forms)

  11

  (V)

  Responses of Mack and Larry on the PEC Scale

  12

  (V)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Showing Various Overall Political Party Preferences

  13

  (V)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Whose Fathers Have Various Political Party Preferences

  14

  (V)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Showing Various Relations Between Subject’s and Father’s Political Preference

  15

  (V)

  Mean E Score for Various Organizations in the Form 40 Sample

  16

  (V)

  Mean E Score for Groups Having Various Maritime Union Affiliations (Maritime School Sample)

  17

  (V)

  Mean E Scores for Groups Who Have Various Present Yearly Incomes

  18

  (V)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Having Various Levels of Expected Yearly Income

  19

  (V)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Whose Fathers Had Various Incomes

  20

  (V)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Whose Fathers Have Various Occupations

  1

  (VI)

  Mean A-S or E Scores of Various Religious Groups

  2

  (VI)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Showing Various Frequencies of Church Attendance

  3

  (VI)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Showing Various Relations Between Father’s Religion and Mother’s Religion

  4

  (VI)

  Mean A-S or E Scores for Groups Showing Various Relations Between Subject’s Religion and Mother’s Religion

  5

  (VI)

  Mean A-S Scores of Groups Giving Different Categories of Response to the Question: “How Important Are Religion and the Church?”

  1

  (VII)

  The F Scale: Form 78

  2

  (VII)

  Reliability of the F Scale (Form 78)

  3

  (VII)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the F-Scale Items (Form 78)

  4

  (VII)

  The F Scale: Form 60

  5

  (VII)

  Reliability of the F Scale (Form 60)

  6

  (VII)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the F-Scale Items (Form 60)

  7

  (VII)

  F-Scale Clusters: Forms 45 and 40

  8

  (VII)

  Reliability of the F Scale (Forms 40 and 45)

  9

  (VII)

  Means and Discriminatory Powers of the F-Scale Items (Forms 40 and 45)

  10

  (VII)

  Correlations of the F Scale with the A-S, E, and PEC Scales in the Several Forms of the Questionnaire

  11

  (VII)

  Correlations of the F Scale with Each Half and with the Whole of the E Scale

  12

  (VII)

  Mean F-Scale Scores of Groups Taking the Several Forms of the Questionnaire

  13

  (VII)

  Responses of Mack and Larry on the F Scale (Form 78)

  1

  (VIII)

  Correlations of the E and F Scales with Various Ability Tests (Maritime School Men)

  2

  (VIII)

  Correlations of the E, F, and PEC Scales with the Otis Higher Form A Intelligence Test (Employment Service Veteran Men)

  3

  (VIII)

  Mean Wechsler-Bellevue IQ Score for Each Quartile of the Ethnocentrism Scale (Psychiatric Clinic Men and Women)

  4

  (VIII)

  Mean Number of Years of Education for Each Quartile of the Ethnocentrism Scale (Psychiatric Clinic Men and Women)

  5

  (VIII)

  Mean E Score for Groups Having Various Years of Education (Maritime School Men)

  1

  (IX)

  Survey of 20 Prejudiced and 20 Unprejudiced Men Interviewed

  2

  (IX)

  Survey of 25 Prejudiced and 15 Unprejudiced Women Interviewed

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p; 3

  (IX)

  Representativeness of Interviewees in Terms of Scores on the Ethnocentrism Scale

  4

  (IX)

  Age Distribution in Total Extreme Quartiles and Interviewees

  5

  (IX)

  Religious Affiliation in Total Extreme Quartiles and Interviewees

  6

  (IX)

  Political Outlook in Total Extreme Quartiles and Interviewees

  7

  (IX)

  Reliability of Interview Ratings: Interrater Agreement on Nine Subjects

  8

  (IX)

  Interrater Agreement on Interview Ratings for Six Major Areas

  1

  (X)

  Interview Ratings on Attitude Toward Parents and Concept of Family for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  2

  (X)

  Interview Ratings on Concept of Childhood Environment for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  3

  (X)

  Interview Ratings on Childhood Events and Attitude Toward Siblings for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  1

  (XI)

  Interview Ratings on Attitude Toward Sex for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  2

  (XI)

  Interview Ratings on Attitude Toward People for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  3

  (XI)

  Interview Ratings on Attitude Toward Present Self for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  4

  (XI)

  Interview Ratings on Attitude Toward Childhood Self for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  1

  (XII)

  Interview Ratings on Dynamic Character Structure for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  2

  (XII)

  Interview Ratings on Cognitive Personality Organization for 80 Subjects Scoring Extremely “High” or “Low” on the Ethnic Prejudice Questionnaire Scale

  1

  (XIII)

  Composite Ratings (Means) for Major Areas of Study for “High” and “Low” Scoring Groups of Interviewees

  1

  (XIV)

  Distribution of Thematic Apperception Test Sample Among the Several Groups Participating in the Study

  2

  (XIV)

  Age Distribution of Subjects Receiving the Thematic Apperception Test

  3

  (XIV)

  Distribution of Thematic Apperception Test Subjects with Respect to the Sex of the Examiners

  4

  (XIV)

  Stimulus Values of the Ten Thematic Apperception Test Pictures

  5

  (XIV) A

  Intensities of Need and Press Variables as Expressed in Stories Told by Men

  5

  (XIV) B

  Intensities of Need and Press Variables as Expressed in Stories Told by Women

  6

  (XIV)

  Comparison of the Scores of Mack and Larry on the Thematic Apperception Test with the Mean Scores of Prejudiced and Unprejudiced Men

  1

  (XV)

  Scoring Reliability (Percentage Interrater Agreement) for the Eight Projective Questions

  2

  (XV)

  Percentage Agreement Between Projective Question Scores and E-Scale Scores

  FIGURE 1 (XX)

  The Genetic Aspects of Mack’s Personality

  1

  (XXI)

  Identifying Data for Interviewees in the Prison Inmates Group

  2

  (XXI)

  Results on the E Scale from the Group of Prison Inmates

  3

  (XXI)

  Results on the PEC Scale from the Group of Prison Inmates

  4

  (XXI)

  Results on the F Scale from the Group of Prison Inmates

  5

  (XXI)

  Mean E- and F-Scale Scores of the Prison Inmates, Grouped According to Offense

  1

  (XXII)

  Reliability Data on the E Scale for Psychiatric Clinic Men and Women

  2

  (XXII)

  Incidence of Various Psychiatic Diagnoses in the Sample of Psychiatric Clinic Patients

  3

  (XXII)

  Percentage of Each E-Scale Quartile Falling Into Various Psychiatric Categories

  4

  (XXII)

  Percentage of the Upper and of the Lower Halves of the E-Scale Distribution Falling Into Various Psychiatric Categories

  5

  (XXII)

  Percentage of Neurotic Patients in Each E-Scale Quartile Showing Various Neurotic Features

  6

  (XXII)

  Percentage of Neurotic Patients in the Upper and Lower Halves of the E-Scale Distribution Showing Various Neurotic Features

  FIGURE 1 (XXII)

  Average MMPI Profile for Non-Psychotic Psychiatric Patients Falling Into Each Half of the E-Scale Distribution

  7

  (XXII)

  Mean Scores on the Several Scales of the MMPI for Subjects Falling into Each Quartile and Into Each Half of the E-Scale Distribution. Nonpsychotic Male Patients

  8

  (XXII)

  Mean Scores on the Several Scales of the MMPI for Subjects Falling Into Each Quartile and Into Each Half of the E-Scale Distribution. Nonpsychotic Female Patients

  9

  (XXII)

  The Amount of Agreement Between Two Raters in Estimating a Subject’s Standing on the E Scale from an Analysis of His Intake Interview. Psychiatric Clinic Patients: Men and Women Combined

  10

  (XXII)

  The Amount of Agreement Between a Single Rater (A) and Seven Other Raters in Estimating Variables in Intake Interviews. Psychiatric Clinic Patients: Men and Women Combined

  11

  (XXII)

  The Amount of Agreement Between Rater A’s Estimate of High or Low Ethnocentrism, Based on Analysis of Intake Interviews, and Ethnocentrism as Measured by the E Scale. Psychiatric Clinic Patients: Men and Women Combined

  12

  (XXII)

  The Amount of Agreement Between Estimates of Ethnocentrism, Based on Ratings of Single Variables from Intake Interviews, and Ethnocentrism as Measured by the E Scale. Psychiatric Clinic Patients: Men and Women Combined

  13

  (XXII)

  Summary of Data from the Rating of Intake Interviews. A. Reliability: Percentage Agreement Among Raters for Seven Variables. B. Validity: Percentage Agreement Between Ratings and Score on the E Scale. Psychiatric Clinic Patients: Men and Women Combined

  The stimulus pictures used for the Thematic Apperception Tests in Chapter XIV are reproduced on the insert opposite page 508.

  INTRODUCTION TO

  THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY

  PETER E. GORDON

  Originally published in 1950, The Authoritarian Personality remains a major landmark in political psychology. It represents one of the most sophisticated attempts to explore the origins of fascism not merely as a political phenomenon, but as the manifestation of dispositions that lie at the very core of the modern psyche. For this reason alone, it merits our attention—especially today, when insurgent fascist or quasi-fascist political movements seem once again to threaten democracies across Europe and the Americas. The relevance of this effort for our contemporary moment may strike the reader as self-evident. But the details of the original study are still poorly understood, not least because terms such as “
fascism” or “authoritarianism” have an expressive function that can overwhelm careful analysis. After all, to condemn something as “fascist” is both a cry of alarm and a palliative: it names a political extreme even while it offers the consoling thought that the extreme is not the norm. It was among the major achievements of the original Authoritarian Personality study that it challenged this liberal assumption, by showing that the potential for fascism lie not at the periphery but at the very heart of modern experience. It set out to demonstrate that fascism is something far deeper than a political form: it correlates with psychological patterns of domination and submission that take shape in earliest childhood and later harden into a syndrome of attitudes regarding hierarchy, power, sexuality, and tradition. The psyche of a fascist is “authoritarian” in the sense that it attaches itself to figures of strength and disdains those it deems weak. It tends toward conventionalism, rigidity, and stereotypical thinking; it insists on a stark contrast between in-group and out-group, and it jealously patrols the boundaries between them. It is prone to obsession over rumors of immorality and conspiracy, and it represses with self-loathing the sexual licentiousness it projects onto others. In all of these ways, fascism appears as the political manifestation of a pre-political disposition. The authoritarian personality does not always turn explicitly fascist; its politics may remain dormant, only to emerge under certain social-historical conditions. This thesis offers an important corrective to those who prefer to see fascism as discontinuous with liberal-democratic political culture: fascism is not mysterious, and it is not something otherworldly or rare; it is the modern symptom of a psychopathology that is astonishingly widespread and threatens modern society from within.