Authoritarian nature of power

Hello, dear readers! Authoritarianism, totalitarianism, tyranny, despotism - few people will have positive emotions from these words. Is there really nothing good in them and if you notice such qualities in yourself, do they need to be eradicated? In this article we will try to deal with this issue.

Let's turn to dictionaries

So what does authoritarian mean? I open a short psychological dictionary and immediately come across the phrase: “a pronounced desire to subordinate partners as much as possible.” This sounds extremely negative, but we should not forget that there are positive tools in the arsenal of subordination techniques. Forceful methods and manipulative schemes are not always used.

If we read the definition of this concept further, we see that an authoritarian person tries to obtain a leading position not thanks to personal merits, but thanks to the role position he occupies: “I am a man”, “I am a husband”, “I am a boss”, “I am a mistress of the house."

Awareness of one's own role does not yet mean fulfilling one's own responsibilities, but it does not contradict this judgment. An authoritarian person is demanding of others, but does not necessarily fulfill the functions assigned to him.

Let's move on to the character description that the same dictionary gives us. We come across words and definitions such as -, high self-esteem, self-confidence and following stereotypes. I don’t quite agree with the first concept.

Aggressiveness is a sign of inferiority and not every authoritarian person will use this trait if he wants to maintain a leading position for as long as possible. By the way, the desire for too good sign. He speaks of loyalty to tradition, stability and a classic approach to life and tasks.

Modernity

If we turn to the interpretation of the word “authoritarian”, which I found in the dictionary, then we get exclusively negative image. However, it is created by words with a pronounced negative assessment. If we think a little, we will understand that authoritarianism is not necessarily evil. This would be too one-sided a judgment.

The desire for leadership and dominance are qualities no worse than others. In combination with the right methods, patterns of behavior and a well-chosen team, they can be productive and give a person many advantages.

If you are interested in authoritarianism, then I can recommend an excellent book Theodor W. Adorno's Study of the Authoritarian Personality. This is a very detailed work that contains basic information about what kind of authoritarian person he is, and why so many dictators appeared in the 20th century. Recently, this book has become a classic in the field of philosophy and sociology.

How to develop qualities

The most important quality that an authoritarian person requires is... It should be felt in everything: appearance, look, pose, voice and even phrases. Practice in front of a mirror.

Try to develop a love for standards. Focus on them and try to follow them in your life. Going beyond the ordinary is usually condemned by an authoritarian personality.

The end of the dialogue, as a rule, ends with an instruction, request and order. Make sure that they are followed, and if this does not happen, apply penalties.

You can also find a lot of useful information on management in the book. Peter Drucker's "The Effective Leader". Read it, you won't regret it.

Distinctive feature such a person is exposed to an overly rigid system social attitudes. Such people are sensitive to the attributes of power, prefer social stereotypes, and consider personal intimacy as unacceptable. Adorno described this phenomenon based on S. Freud's views on the meaning of early socialization. In his opinion, as a result of too strict upbringing, when the child’s feelings of resentment and his aggression towards parents are suppressed, there is a tendency to idealize them, on the one hand, and to reorient hostility towards substitute objects, on the other. This phenomenon was used as the basis for explaining attitudes towards national minorities.

Adorno T.W. Frenkel-Brunswick K., Levinson D.J. Sanford R.M. The Authoritarian Personality. N.Y., 1950

Psychological Dictionary. THEM. Kondakov. 2000.

(English) authoritarian personality) - complex personal characteristics, including, on the one hand, cognitive style variables ( , intolerance of uncertainty and cognitive complexity, dogmatism) and socio-political attitudes - on the other (conservatism, anti-democracy, prejudice against minorities, racist views).

Concept of A. l. was developed by philosophers, sociologists and psychologists so-called. Frankfurt school(employees of the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt am Main), who were tasked with elucidating the psychological roots of anti-Semitic and pro-fascist sentiments. Its main theorists were Horkheimer, Adorno, Fromm, Marcuse, Habermas. The concept and term “A. l." proposed by E. Fromm as part of his doctrine of social characters. Greater fame concept of A. l. received thanks to the publication in 1950 of a collective monograph: Adorno T. W., Frenkel-Brunswik K., Levinson D. J., Sanford R. N. The authoritarian personality (N. Y.: Harper & Row, 1950). It presented the results of research carried out under the leadership of Theodor Adorno (1903-1969).

For the diagnosis of A. l. Many questionnaires have been developed, including the anti-Semitism scale (A-S scale), the ethnocentrism scale (E scale), the political-economic conservatism scale (PEC scale), and the California F scale (“F” stands for fascism).

Critics of the concept pointed, in particular, to the ambiguous relationship between cognitive style variables and people's sociopolitical orientations (primitive cognitive style m.b. both among conservatives and left-wing rebels-nonconformists), between these orientations and actual behavior. The idea of ​​the formation of the syndrome of A. l., put forward by theorists of the Frankfurt school, is not sufficiently substantiated empirically. under the influence of the city. family education practices. (B.M.)

Large psychological dictionary. - M.: Prime-EVROZNAK. Ed. B.G. Meshcheryakova, acad. V.P. Zinchenko. 2003 .

   AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY (With. 11) (from Latin autoritas - power) - specific psychological type, possessing such traits as reactionism, conservatism, aggressiveness, thirst for power. The concept was introduced by E. Fromm, who with its help tried to identify the origins of Nazism. However, according to Fromm, this type can be traced in history long before the emergence of fascism. Fromm considered the head of the burgher Reformation in Germany, Martin Luther, to be a typical authoritarian personality.

According to Fromm, in the consciousness of an authoritarian person there is no concept of equality. The world for such a person consists of people who have or do not have power and authority, i.e. higher and lower. A typical illustration of an authoritarian personality is the biography of A. Hitler.

In 1950, the book “The Authoritarian Personality” was published, written by T. Adorno and co-authors. This work became widely known, which is why the authorship of the term “authoritarian personality” is sometimes attributed to Adorno. In it, Adorno described this phenomenon based on S. Freud’s views on the role of early socialization. In his opinion, as a result of too strict upbringing, when the child’s sense of resentment and his aggression towards parents are suppressed, there is a tendency to idealize them, on the one hand, and to reorient hostility towards substitute objects, on the other. He used this phenomenon as the basis for explaining prejudices against national minorities.

Popular psychological encyclopedia. - M.: Eksmo. S.S. Stepanov. 2005.

A personality type characterized by an intolerance of uncertainty, excessive deference to power and authority, and hostility towards any group that potentially disrupts the existing order. The idea of ​​the authoritarian personality is attributed to Adorno, who was himself a victim of anti-Semitism. After numerous interviews with people who had this personality type, Adorno discovered. that they have the following common features:

They tend to idealize their parents. calling them "paragons of virtue."

They were brought up in very strict conditions.

They show signs of repressed hostility towards their parents.

The suppressed hostility is transferred to others - that is, to representatives of the minority. - who are perceived as hostile towards authority, personified by an authoritarian personality. Counts. that parents indirectly pass on authoritarian personality traits to their children through prejudice against minority groups. The formation of an authoritarian personality is determined by a specific style of education in a special cultural context.

Psychology. AND I. Dictionary reference / Transl. from English K. S. Tkachenko. - M.: FAIR PRESS. Mike Cordwell. 2000.

See what an “authoritarian personality” is in other dictionaries:

AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY- AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY is a concept proposed by E. Fromm for the neo-Freudian interpretation of the “man of the crowd”, representative of “ mass society”, which is distinguished by such traits as conservatism, thirst for power, hatred of representatives of others... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia

Authoritarian Personality- personality characteristics, author T. Adorno. A distinctive feature of such a person is an overly rigid system of social attitudes. Such people are sensitive to the attributes of power, I give... Psychological Dictionary

AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY- (lat. auctoritas power, influence) the concept and concept of Fromm, fixing and explaining the existence of a special type of personality, which is the basis of totalitarian regimes. According to Fromm, A. L. is characterized by: intolerance of freedom; thirst for self-affirmation... The latest philosophical dictionary

AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY- English personality, authoritarian; German Personlichkeit, autoritare. A personality type characterized by extreme conformism, rigidity, suppression of emotions and feelings, true subservience and arrogance towards subordinates. A. l. basically… … Encyclopedia of Sociology

AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY- (Authoritarian Personality) The title of the work of a group of scientists who studied in the 1940s. J. Berkeley's legacy in search psychological sources anti-Semitism. The term authoritarian is used in relation to the ethnocentric type... ... Political science. Dictionary.

Authoritarian personality- This article needs additional sources to improve verifiability. You can help ulu... Wikipedia - This concept indicates a predisposition certain type individuals to anti-democratic political beliefs, ready to accept totalitarian ideology. A classic study is the work of T. Adorno and his colleagues, entitled... ... Eurasian wisdom from A to Z. Explanatory dictionary

Authoritarian personality- - a person who is respectful and obsequious towards those in power and hostile towards other people different from him. An authoritarian PERSONALITY is not always ready to take responsibility for his actions, believing that he is being led by other people.... ... Dictionary-reference book for social work

Books

• A Study of the Authoritarian Personality, Theodor W. Adorno. What is an authoritarian personality? Why does an authoritarian leader quickly subjugate those around him and easily manipulate them? How does an authoritarian personality differ from a sociopathic one, although he has... Buy for 229 rubles eBook

Unlimited power in your hands limited people always leads to cruelty.

A. Solzhenitsyn. Gulag Archipelago

Uncontrolled power corrupts people.

Ethel Lilian Voynich. Gadfly

Authoritarianism as a personality quality is the desire to become a sole leader and subordinate interaction and communication partners to one’s influence as much as possible, organize a clear hierarchical structure around itself, based on the strict implementation of its requirements and orders.

One day Confucius was passing near the mountain. Some woman sobbed loudly over the grave. Bowing down on the front of the chariot as a sign of respect, Confucius listened to her sobs. And then he sent his student to the woman, and he asked her: “You are so upset - it seems that this is not the first time you have grieved?” “So it is,” the woman answered. - Once upon a time, my father-in-law died from the claws of a tiger. Later my husband died from them. And now my son died from them. - Why don’t you leave these places? - Confucius asked. “There are no cruel authorities here,” the woman answered. “Remember this, student,” said Confucius. - Cruel power is fiercer than a tiger.

Authoritarianism, as opposed to democracy, is a monopoly of power, maximum suppression of initiative, and the use of coercive measures. An authoritarian leader seeks to activate subordinates using administrative methods, taking into account iron discipline and demandingness, threats of punishment and His Majesty Fear. Overbearing and cold authoritarianism turns people into passive performers. It destroys all goodwill in the team, mutual understanding and mutual respect between the leader and his subordinates. As a rule, an authoritarian leader is characterized by aggressiveness, inflated self-esteem and pretentiousness, stereotypical thinking, and a desire to dominate. He is intolerant of objections and criticism. Exerting all-round pressure on people, authoritarianism pronounces threats and ultimatums with a metallic voice.

An authoritarian boss or family member has his own opinion. absolute truth, an axiom and, without any doubt, imposes it to the outside world: “Like I said, period.” The deep reason for this behavior is neurotic compensation for feelings of inferiority. A strong, self-confident person does not like coercion. Persuasion and explanation predominate in his arsenal. The craving for dominance and superiority, deafness to dissent make an authoritarian person strive for power. Only there will he find an outlet for the manifestation of his quality. Having achieved power, an authoritarian person knows how to “build everyone up,” force them to “keep pace,” and keep them “in the fist.” The typical path for authoritarianism is to get officer rank and rise to the rank of colonel or general, take the place of a sports coach, the chair of a chief. If this does not happen, authoritarianism comes off on family members or on the dog.

When authoritarian leader makes high demands on himself, shows energy, inspiration and enthusiasm; such a person, despite the rigidity of management, evokes involuntary respect from people. Seeing his discipline, composure, and the highest concentration on solving assigned tasks, people also become disciplined and do not complain that the bar of high demands is set for them. Indignation and protest moods arise when an authoritarian leader is dispensable, disorganized, slack, and undemanding to himself. In other words, the authoritarianism of management is not necessarily a big minus. Many effective leaders are authoritarians and often take pride in it because their businesses thrive.

The trouble with authoritarianism is that it imposes a system of punishment on people without first winning their respect and hearts. Vladimir Tarasov writes: “You cannot punish without winning a heart. If the heart is not won, it means that you are not included in the center of gravity of those subordinate to you. Getting closer to you is not valuable to them. Removal from you is not sad, and if you still pass judgment, it reveals that you poorly understand what is happening around you and do not adequately perceive the situation. This only damages your credibility. Because it is unforgivable for a leader. But it’s forgivable only for a hopeless beginner. Without winning a heart, you can punish only if a law established not by you, but by your predecessors, is violated. But there is also a risk here: after all, your predecessors may not have enjoyed authority. In any case, you need to know when to stop. Excessive punishment looks like revenge weak person A. The best reaction to a violation is a reaction of force, a reaction of indifference: yes, I see that you are violating, and we will undoubtedly return to this issue in two weeks. You may have your own reasons for violating, but we'll get to that later. And, of course, there is no good-natured shade in the intonation: ah, spoiler, just wait, I’ll get to you! And no malice: I am vindictive, beware! Only the indifference of the machine, which, when thoroughly understood, can punish. But he can understand. Or maybe, less likely, even forgive. Having won a heart, one cannot help but punish. If you do not punish, the subordinate, prompted by the natural desire to get closer to the center of gravity, will forget about moderation. He will lose the main quality of a subordinate - his readiness to carry out an order, without knowing anything about its content. An unpunished subordinate will strive to carry out only those orders that contribute to his advancement to the center, and avoid fulfilling others. Following him, other subordinates will rummage through your orders, like cheap goods on sale, choosing the most suitable ones for execution. Only the one who felt punished is punished, and not the one who was punished.”

Gogol has the character Derzhimorda in The Government Inspector, and Chekhov’s Unter Prishibeev is a typical bearer of authoritarianism. Derzhimorda did not give too much vent to his fists; For the sake of order, he puts lights under everyone's eyes - both those who are right and those who are guilty. Unter Prishibeev in court proves the “justice” of authoritarianism and wonders why the judges do not share his opinion: “Excuse me, you are not a police officer, not a headman, is it really your job to disperse the people? - Not his! Not his! - voices are heard from different corners of the camera. - There is no life from him, your speed! We have been suffering from him for fifteen years! As soon as you came home from service, from that time on, at least run away from the village. Tortured everyone! - That's right, your speed! - says the witness the elder. - The whole world is stinging. It's impossible to live with him! Whether we are walking with images, or a wedding, or, let’s say, some occasion, everywhere he shouts, makes noise, introduces all orders. He pulls out the boys' ears, spies on the women so that nothing happens, like some kind of father-in-law... The other day he walked around the huts, ordering them not to sing songs and not to burn fires. There is no law, he says, for singing songs. “Wait, you still have time to give the order,” says the magistrate, “and now let Prishibeev continue.” Carry on, Prishibeev! - I’m listening, sir! - the non-commissioned officer wheezes. - You, Your Highness, please say, it’s not my business to disperse the people... Okay, sir... What if there are riots? How can we allow people to be disgraced? Where is it written in the law to give the people freedom? I can't allow it, sir. If I don’t start to disperse them and punish them, then who will? No one knows the real rules, in the whole village I’m the only one, you might say, your Highness, who knows how to deal with people of ordinary rank, and, Your Highness, I can understand everything...

I’m not a man, I’m a non-commissioned officer, a retired captain, I served in Warsaw, at the headquarters, sir, and after that, if you please, I came out clean, I was in the firefighters, sir, and after that, due to weakness of illness, I left the firefighters and two years in the men's classical gymnasium, he served as a janitor... All I know the rules, sir. But the man is a simple man, he doesn’t understand anything and has to listen to me, because it’s for his own good. . It used to happen, in Warsaw or when I was a porter at a men's classical gymnasium, then as soon as I heard some inappropriate words, I would look down the street to see if I could see a gendarme: “Come here, I say, gentleman,” and I would report everything to him. And here in the village, who can you tell?.. Evil took me. It was a shame that the current people had forgotten themselves in self-will and disobedience, I swung my hand and... of course, not so much, but just right, lightly, so that I wouldn’t dare to say such words about your honor... The constable stood up for the foreman. I, therefore, am a police officer... And off we go... I got excited, your highness, well, but you can’t help but beat him. If you don’t beat a stupid person, then it’s a sin on your soul. Especially if it’s to the point... if it’s a mess... -But understand that this is none of your business! - What, sir? how is it not mine? Wonderful, sir... People are ugly, and it’s none of my business! Why should I praise them, or what? They’re complaining to you that I forbid singing songs... But what’s good about songs? Instead of something to do with something, they sing... And it’s also become fashionable to sit in the evenings with a fire. You need to go to bed, and they are talking and laughing... - Enough! - says the judge and begins to interrogate witnesses. Unter Prishibeev lifts his glasses onto his forehead and looks in surprise at the peace officer, who is obviously not on his side. His bulging eyes sparkle and his nose turns bright red. He looks at the magistrate, at the witnesses, and cannot understand why the magistrate is so agitated and why from all corners of the cell one can hear either a murmur or restrained laughter. The sentence is also incomprehensible to him: a month under arrest! - For what?! - he says, spreading his hands in bewilderment. - Under what law? And it is clear to him that the world has changed and that it is no longer possible to live in the world. Gloomy, despondent thoughts take possession of him. But having left the cell and seeing the men crowding around and talking about something, out of habit, which he can no longer control, he stretches out his arms at his sides and shouts in a hoarse, angry voice: “Narrod, disperse!” Don't crowd! Home!"

Petr Kovalev 2013

Authoritarianism (from French. authoritarianism- influence) - the desire to subjugate other people or become neurotically dependent on them. "Distinct forms of this mechanism can be found in the desire for submission or dominance or - to use another formulation - in the masochistic and sadistic tendencies that exist to varying degrees in both neurotics and healthy people"Both sadistic and masochistic tendencies are caused by the individual’s inability to exist independently, his need for a symbiotic relationship to overcome loneliness.

The most common forms of manifestation of masochistic tendencies are a feeling of one’s own inferiority, helplessness, and insignificance. An analysis of people who experience such feelings shows that although they consciously complain about it and want to get rid of these feelings, there is some force in their subconscious that makes them feel inferior or insignificant. These people, as Fromm notes, constantly show a clearly expressed dependence on external forces: on other people, on any organizations, on nature. They strive not to assert themselves, not to do what they themselves want, but to obey the real or imaginary orders of these external forces. Often they are simply not able to experience the feeling of “I want”, the feeling of their own “I”.

E. Fromm spoke about “authoritarian character” when he was talking not about neurotics, but about normal people. This term, in his opinion, is completely justified, because the sadomasochistic personality is characterized by a special attitude towards power. Such a person admires power and wants to submit to it, but at the same time he wants to become power himself so that others will obey him. There is another reason for which Fromm considered the term in question to be legitimate. Fascist systems call themselves authoritarian due to the dominant role of power in their socio-political structure. The term “authoritarian character” also includes the fact that such a character set determines the “human base” of fascism.

Most specific feature "authoritarian character"is an attitude towards power and strength. For him, there are, so to speak, two genders: the strong and the powerless. Power automatically evokes his love and willingness to submit, regardless of who showed it. Power attracts him not for the sake of the values ​​that lie behind it stand, and in itself, simply because she is strong. Just as strength automatically arouses his “love,” powerless people and organizations involuntarily arouse his contempt. At the mere sight of a weak person, a person with an authoritarian character feels the desire to attack, suppress The other type of person is horrified at the very idea of ​​​​attacking a weak person, but an authoritarian person feels the more rage the more helpless his victim is.

The authoritarian character has one feature that has misled many researchers - the tendency to resist authority and reject any influence from above. Sometimes this resistance obscures the whole picture, as the tendency to conform becomes invisible. Such a person constantly rebels against any government, even against one that acts in his interests and does not apply repressive measures at all. Sometimes the relationship to power is bifurcated: people may fight against one system of power, especially if they are frustrated by the lack of power of that system, and at the same time (or later) submit to another system, which, due to its greater power or greater promises, can satisfy their masochistic desires .

Finally, there is a type in which rebellious tendencies are completely suppressed and appear only when conscious control is weakened (they can only be recognized later by the hatred that rises against this power and in the event of its weakening or collapse). With respect to people in whom rebellion predominates, one can easily make the mistake of thinking that their character structure is exactly the opposite of that of the masochistic type. It seems that protest against any authority is based on extreme independence, which looks like inner strength and integrity push authoritarian individuals to fight any forces that limit their freedom.

However, the struggle of an authoritarian nature against the authorities is, in fact, bravado, an attempt to assert oneself, to overcome the feeling of one’s own powerlessness, but the dream of submitting (conscious or not) remains. A person with an authoritarian character is never a “revolutionary”. E. Fromm called him a "rebel." Many people, and even political movements, amaze the not very attentive observer with the seeming inexplicability of the transition from “radicalism” to extreme authoritarianism. Psychologically, these people are typical rebels.

The attitude of a person with an authoritarian character to life, his entire philosophy, is determined by his emotional aspirations. Such a person loves conditions that limit his freedom; he gladly submits to fate. The determination of fate depends on social status. For a soldier, fate can mean the will or whim of a superior, which he is “glad to try” to fulfill, for a small entrepreneur - economic laws; crises or prosperity are not social phenomena that can be changed human activity, but the discovery of a higher goal, which one has to obey. Those at the top of the pyramid also have their own “destiny.” The difference is only in the scale of power and force to which the individual is subject, and not in the feeling of subordination as such. Not only the forces that directly determine a person’s personal life, but also the forces on which life in general depends are perceived as an inexorable fate. By the will of fate, wars occur, but by the will of fate, one part of humanity must control the other. It is also destined that suffering in this world will never decrease.

Fate can be rationalized. In philosophy, this is “human destiny”, “natural law”; in religion – “the will of the Lord”; in ethics - duty; but for an authoritarian person this is always the highest external authority, which can only be obeyed.

An authoritarian personality bows to the past: what was will be forever; to want something that did not exist before, to work in the name of something new - this is either madness or a crime. The miracle of creativity - and creativity is always a miracle - does not fit into the concepts of such a person.

A common feature of any authoritarian thinking is the belief that life is determined by forces that lie outside a person, outside his interests and desires. The only possible happiness lies in submission to these forces. In Hitler's writings we find manifestations of the same spirit. An authoritarian person may have activity, courage, and faith, but these qualities have a completely different meaning for her than they do for a person who does not strive for submission.

This is the highest virtue and merit of such a person, and not in trying to stop suffering or at least reduce it. Do not change fate, but obey it - this is the motto of an authoritarian character.

An authoritarian person trusts power as long as this power is strong and can command. After all, such faith is ultimately rooted in his doubts and is an attempt to compensate for them. However, if by faith we understand a firm belief in the feasibility of a certain goal, in this moment existing only in the form of a possibility, then he does not have such faith. At its core, authoritarian philosophy is nihilistic and relativistic (understanding everything as something relative), despite the appearance of its activity and the fact that it often and zealously declares its victory over relativism. Growing up in extreme despair, in a complete lack of faith, this philosophy leads to nihilism and denial of life.

There is no concept of equality in authoritarian philosophy. A person with an authoritarian character may sometimes use the word "equality" in normal conversation (or for his own benefit), but for him the word has no real meaning, since it refers to a concept that he cannot comprehend. The world for him consists of people who have or do not have power and authority, i.e. lower and higher. Sadomasochistic aspirations lead such a person to the point that he is only capable of dominance or submission. He cannot feel solidarity. Any differences, be it gender or race, are necessarily signs of superiority or inferiority for him. A distinction that would not have this meaning is simply unimaginable to him.

The above description of sadomasochistic desire and authoritarian character refers to the most pronounced forms of “escape from freedom” through a symbiotic relationship with the object of worship or domination. Only certain individuals social groups can be considered as typically sadomasochistic, but sadomasochistic impulses, as Fromm believed, exist in almost everyone.

The concept of the “authoritarian personality” was supported by the German philosophers M. Horkheimer, T. Adorno and the German-American philosopher and sociologist G. Marcuse. She had a huge impact on the development of all Western culture.

Immediately after the end of World War II, Adorno became the director of a major empirical study of the roots of authoritarianism. It started in West Germany and ended in the USA. The researcher pointed out the dangerous slide of the human worldview towards strengthening the empty automatism of existing stereotypes, acting according to rules legitimized by only one habit. T. Adorno identified a very symptomatic combination of such personality traits as conventionalism, obedience to authority, destructiveism and cynicism for an anti-democratic structure. The scientist noted that the power complex is directly related to certain aspects of ethnocentrism. An individual who perceives everything in categories such as “strong - weak” will most likely transfer this scheme to the relationship " own group- an alien group,” that is, it will distinguish between “superior” and “inferior” races. And the cheapest trick from a psychological point of view, which allows one to gain a feeling of superiority, is the claim to belong to a special “race”.

• Fromm E. Dogma about Christ. P. 292.
• Adorno T. A study of authoritarian personality. M., 2001. P. 62.

Who is an authoritarian person? Do you think this is a self-willed despot who is guided only by his own opinion and never thinks about those around him? Do not confuse authoritarian people and tyrants. The first personality is not distinguished by despotism; she is characterized by a businesslike approach to any undertaking and good planning of each of her actions.

Definition

The theory of the authoritarian personality, developed by E. Fromm, says that an authoritarian person is an adherent of a conservative view of the world and a hater existing system board. Leadership weighs heavily on a person, and he considers it his duty to change the ruling elite. This does not mean that the person will run for president and change the structure of the entire country. This means that a person will make small revolutions in his social circle. For example, a person will be able to head the plant where he worked long years as a manager. An authoritarian person experiences disappointment from life and thinks that this state is familiar to everyone around him. That is why she strives for power, to fill the void with work. The personality believes that the feeling of loneliness arises due to the presence large quantity free time, which most people do not know how to manage.

Stereotypes

• A man who strives for power is unfamiliar with any moral values. Such a person is low in itself, and if she wants to lead, it means she strives to elevate her ego and become a despot.
• Such people are considered to have a limited mind. But if you look at historical examples, then it becomes clear that people of an authoritarian character are not only smart, but also perspicacious. And it is not their own frivolity that destroys them, but unsatisfied ambitions.
• Such a person always demands too much from others. This is partly true. But it should be borne in mind that, first of all, a person requires good performance from himself. A person works tirelessly and it is quite logical that a person will demand the same from others.
• Discipline. An authoritative person loves when everything goes according to his plan and no circumstances interfere with the achievement of goals. Discipline helps you achieve your goals faster, as people will focus on the result rather than wasting energy on unimportant actions.

What makes a person authoritarian?

The formation of any person occurs in childhood. It is quite logical that an authoritarian personality is a product of improper upbringing. What can cause a change in consciousness in a child and the acquisition of false values?

Anxiety. A person who is afraid of everything in the world will strive to always and everywhere take control of the situation. Most often, such feelings are generated in a child by mothers who are too protective of their child. The mother does not allow the child to do anything without asking and always intimidates the child. Anxiety is imprinted on the child’s subconscious and therefore he unconsciously strives to take control of any situation.

Lack of independence. This character trait is also the result of overprotection. If parents do not force their child to work from childhood and make all decisions themselves, then the child will grow up too arrogant and complacent. A person will disguise his inability to make decisions as confidence. The person will begin to exploit others to achieve his interests.

The habit of submission. If in childhood the father forced the child to obey his every demand, then growing up, the child can harbor resentment and pour it out on others in adulthood. A person will force those around him to dance to his tune.

Character traits

To make it easier to identify such a person among your friends, you should understand who, what character traits the person has, what preferences and value system she has:

• Conservatism. A person does not like something new, and will make his small revolutions based on long-proven methods. Innovation scares people because new technologies seem unreliable and untested. Confidence in technology and methods of action are very important for such a person.
• Servility. Another feature of authoritarianism is the leader’s desire to enslave the consciousness of his subordinates. For his “subjects,” an authoritarian person wants to be almost a god, well, at least an idol.
• Cult of power. A person believes that everything in the world can be achieved through coercion. But this does not mean that he will use his fists to achieve his goals. A person will stop at nothing to make his desires come true.
• Cynicism. A person who is an authoritarian person will treat everyone around him with contempt. And since contempt on the face is not best mask, then the person will mask his true emotions under cynicism and sarcasm.

Family

An authoritarian person is a person who received the wrong upbringing. The parents neglected to look after the child and therefore he began to develop various phobias and strange preferences that contradict normal social principles. Which families contribute to the development of an authoritarian personality? A family with one parent, a family in which the father drinks and a family that is overprotective of the child. It is the extremes that create an unhealthy child. A person should grow up in an atmosphere of love and tenderness from childhood. If he doesn't receive enough attention from his parents, he will grow up embittered and hate everyone. If the mother fussed too much over the child, she will be able to raise a selfish creature who will manipulate others without a twinge of conscience. Therefore, it is the parents who are entrusted with the task of properly developing their child. There is no need to blame your mistakes on bad teachers or the bad influence of the street. Good family will never raise an antisocial type.

A difficult situation

What does an authoritarian person mean? This is a person whose main goal will be the desire for power. A person will passionately desire to dominate everywhere: in the family, at work, among friends. What influences a person’s desire to lead others? The difficult political or economic situation in which a child’s consciousness is formed leaves an imprint on the life of an adult. If the child understood from childhood that leaders were not coping with their tasks, then he began to prepare himself for the fact that his task was to normalize the situation in the country and achieve better life for each. Despite all his desire to lead, a person always has good intentions. He doesn't want power for power's sake. He wants to benefit the world and help all those who suffer.

Education

The authoritarian type of person protests against some rules and standards. He is not against learning, but he is only interested in knowledge and skills that can be useful in the future. Most often, such individuals choose technical rather than humanitarian professions. An authoritarian person tries to improve his vision of the world, but he is limited by the ability to see from only one point of view. He cannot put himself in the position of other people. Therefore, exact sciences are better for people. Such a person receives knowledge with pleasure and never refuses to take any courses. A person continues his studies even after graduation educational institution. After all, to be a good and competent specialist in any field, you need to constantly improve yourself.

Profession

Profession, like education, leaves its mark on a person. A person who works in law enforcement agencies is more prone to authoritarianism. But a person who is engaged in philosophical activity, art or other creative activity is unlikely to develop plans to take over the world. Those who, thanks to their profession, have power over others, can use their powers for anything but noble purposes. For example, an officer has much more chances and opportunities to show his authoritarian nature compared to an ordinary soldier. And a person who has served as a subordinate under contract all his life will be servile not only at work, but also in the family. The habit of obeying, just like the habit of commanding, extends throughout a person’s life.

Communication

• The person will talk to you as if you owe him something. He will deliberately belittle your dignity and put moral pressure on you in order to elevate his status. If you do not succumb to such manipulations, the person will move on to active aggression.
• Such a person will always give orders. The person will not ask the other person’s opinion. He himself will decide what his opponent needs and will be confident that he is right even when the interlocutor tries to say the opposite.
• A person will stick to his opinion, even if he understands that it is fundamentally wrong. He is unlikely to be able to admit that he was wrong and accept his defeat.

Good or bad

Authoritarian behavior can only be condemned when the person has bad intentions. He will strive for his main goal, which will be to improve this world. The followers of an intelligent authoritarian person will be freedom-loving and adequate people. They will not blindly obey their idol. Their obedience will be justified. A leader will help his followers become better people and also show them the path to follow to avoid pitfalls.

But the situation changes when an authoritarian personality comes to power with psychological problems. In this case, the dictator will do what he wants. Such a person will not give anyone an account of his actions. But the individual will demand blind and instant submission from his subordinates.

Person's reputation

How is an authoritarian personality type perceived by others? People are afraid of tyrants. Subservience and respect are more like fear. An authoritarian personality is quite happy with such a situation. She has no close friends, and therefore a person enjoys the respect emanating from his retinue. IN wide circles the person is always known. She has a reputation good specialist And good leader. Nothing bad can be said about a person. But sometimes it’s simply impossible to work with him. The personality tries to remake all subordinates to his standards, which from the outside may seem wild.

Test

Are you into socionics? You will like this personality type test. By answering the questions, you can understand how your worldview is similar or divergent from authoritarian people. You need to answer yes or no. Below are some questions from the F-scale test:

• Should children be taught respect and obedience before anything else?
• Can a person without good manners Is it normal to exist in decent society?
• Will a person achieve success only when he works hard?
• Are industrialists, managers and salespeople more important than artists and writers?
• Our universe is unknowable, and man will never be able to comprehend all its secrets.
• Is man a toy in the hands of supernatural power?
• Will a liberal person become a conservative with age?
• Are laws not as important to the state as a smart leader who will show people the path to happiness?

Do you believe in socionics? The personality type test should show you how much authoritarianism is developed in your soul. If you answered yes to most of the questions, then this means that at heart you are a born dictator.