The Authoritarian Personality By Erich Fromm Summary

The most conflicted relationship between authoritarians and respect of parents is most commonly found between

Those who are in power are not accountable to constituencies and public policy does not derive from social consent. Within sociology and political science, particularly within comparative politics, authoritarianism has been understood as a modern type of political regime. Therefore, the concept focuses on the way of accessing, exercising, and organizing power, on the nature of the belief system, and the role of citizens in the political

Therefore, the study indicated that individuals with a strict upbringing by pushy parents were most likely to develop an authoritarian personality. It was believed that this was because the individual was not able to express hostility towards their parents (for being strict and critical). Consequently, the person would then displace their hostility to other people, namely those who are in a minority. Adorno et al. concluded that people with authoritarian traits, as identified by the F-Scale, were predisposed to having 'fascistic' characteristics such as ethnocentrism (the tendency to favour one's own ethnic group), respect for authority figures and obsession with power (McAvoy 2010).

The purpose of this essay is to outline the similarities and differences between Adorno et al.s (1950) and Altemeyers (1981) approach to authoritarianism. In 1981 Bob Altemeyer revamped Adornos study on authoritarianism, focusing on who the followers are, how they got that way, how they think and why they are so submissive and aggressive.

In this article, Beth discusses about the long term effects of authoritarian parenting in four different sides. First, she mentioned children of authoritarian parents live in a ambience that is high control and lack of warmth. They get a high obedience, it is based on fear, not the esteem. Second, she founds that some research shows children are more likely to be aggressive toward their peers such as name-calling and bullying although other research shows these children tend to be well-behaved. Third, it is about their relationships and performance in school. These children are less socially competent, less helpful, less popular and less likely to be accepted by their classmates. Fourth, the writer mentioned the benefits of authoritarian parenting. There is a evidence that friends of adolescents

According to the article “Authoritarianism, socioethnic diversity and political participation across countries”; “Authoritarians are more likely to display intolerant and punitive attitudes when they perceive a threat to the social cohesion of the in-group” (Singh). This identifies that authoritarian behavior occurs when someone does not understand when something goes wrong, that they are more likely to become very upset over the situation. “Stenner (2005), for example, finds that authoritarians become more intolerant and punitive when exposed to threats to the values and institutions that characterize the in-group, while non-authoritarians tend to become more tolerant and understanding” (SINGH). This quote establishes the actions of an authoritarian; identifying their respective lack of understanding if something goes wrong, and that they are unsure of how to cope with the situation that is placed in front of them. Authoritarian personalities play a role with prejudice, in that they are judgmental of others, they perceive themselves to decidedly be right, and do not allow themselves to get to know others. This theory is very significant to American society because it does not allow people to strive to their full potential.

Authoritarian parents have low involvement and high demand on their children. They are extremely harsh and require their children to submit to their commands and surveillance with little or no communication. Children with these type of parents are not given room to discuss with their parents. They are to comply to their parents with unquestionable respect, and great levels of achievement are anticipated at all times. The result of defying the commands is merciless punishment, which can include yelling and hitting.

Leaders of authoritarian systems have an absolute rule without contestation from others and have the power to control all factors that concern their state. This paper will explore the similarities and differences between ruling presidents and ruling parties within the authoritarian system.

According to Tom Jacobs, in his article “Rethinking the Classic ‘Obedience’ Sudies,” he mentions how some people believe that people are predisposed to follow authority figures without having any doubt, and also will quickly become somehow abusive when positioned in power. In this world most of the people are going have some experience with this topic, especially because in today’s century many people do whatever they want just because of the power they could have compared to others. Jacobs also mentions that in journal named “PLoS Biology,” “they argue that people will indeed comply with the questionable demands of authority figures—but only if they strongly identify with that person, and buy into the rightness of those beliefs;” in other

An authoritarian system can be defined as a principle of blind obedience and acceptance to authority, as opposed to individual freedom and belief. Authoritarian rulers often lack constitutional responsibility towards citizens and choose to exercise absolute control without consideration to the existing bodies of law. Authoritarianism is considered a contested term as they are various forms of authoritarian rule, namely ruling parties and ruling presidents. Hence, this essay will discuss, with reference to similarities

Power and control are things most people crave and some are willing to go to desperate lengths to obtain and maintain it. Past monarchs and dictators alike have used fear, murder, and manipulation to ensure that their power was secure. Leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and King Henry VIII all used intimidation and their influence to gain power which they used to benefit themselves and commit atrocities. They rose to power due to weak societal conditions and then left a dark mark on their countries after their corrupt reign ended. Their corruption was caused by unlimited access to power which made them thirst for more and more, proving that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'.

Some of these characters where very obvious and easier to notice, such as aggression toward other people who are different and seam weaker in a way or another ,also a rigid thinking, a stiff obedience to authority and rules, loyalty to traditions and rejecting any change and new ideas, . In addition, the research identified other characteristic that are subtle and more difficult to spot, such as superstitious way of thinking and concerns regarding sexual behaviour, furthermore, the study claimed that authoritarian people think the world is a source of fear and threat to them (McAvoy, 2014, Pp 32- 33). On the other hand, Altemeyer definition of authoritarianism was much simpler and has three characters only, submission to authority, aggression toward people who are different and finally conventionalism, which is resisting any new ideas and adhering to the old establishment, (McAvoy, 2014, P 49). Yet, both of them believed that people with authoritarian characteristics would not commit such violent acts toward others unless the whole political and social atmosphere is accepting and tolerant toward such behaviour (McAvoy, 2014, P 33), and (McAvoy, 2014, P

The primary focal point of the authoritarian style is on respect rather than parent-child relationships. Authoritarian parents are known for being strict. They lay out rules and expect their children to follow them without question, even if the child has a valid reason for questioning a decision. They establish many rules for the household and leave little or no room for negotiation on policies. Authoritarian parents also fail to explain why the rules exist because they believe that, as the parent, they are the authority on all decisions and shouldn’t be questioned.

Authoritarian Personality is a personality type in which an individual inhibits prejudice It is caused by a variety of certain circumstances, which were narrowed down by Adorno, Frenkel-Brunswik, Levinson, and Sanford during the year 1950. Through many tests and analysis of over 2,000 respondents from middle classes Whites to inmates of San Quentin State Prison, they were able to figure out the characteristics associated with authoritarian personality. The characteristics include compliance in beliefs of conventional values, not having criticism towards authority and complying to authority, and concern regarding power and toughness. Also, the intolerance of those with the authoritarian personality is related to aggression towards people that do not oblige to authority or conventional norms. Researchers believe that a rigid upbringing leads those who an authoritarian personality to treat others like how they were treated.

Whether one acknowledges it or not we all obey authority in one way or another. It is something that is embedded into us from the day that we are born. We begin to become obedient to our parents, elders, our teachers, law enforcement, the list goes and on. Authority has a major impact on human behavior. This is especially evident in the case of the concentration camps in Germany. There were hundreds if not thousands of people following Hitlers unethical orders, and clearly they outnumbered the one person controlling it all. However, they did not go against him but they simply followed his orders. For a person to obey authority, one has to accept that it is legal, and right for the order to be made of them. It also involves somebody of a higher power or status to be involved in making the commands.