The Authoritarian Personality

work by Adorno

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July 16, 2026

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The "Authoritarian Personality" is a concept explored by Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno, a German philosopher, sociologist, and musicologist. This work, co-authored by Adorno, delves into the psychological underpinnings of prejudice and blind submission to authority. It examines how certain personality structures can lead individuals to favor authoritarian regimes and suppress individual freedoms.12

The study investigates the development of an "authoritarian personality" which is characterized by a rigid adherence to conventional values, a tendency to be punitive towards those who deviate from norms, and an uncritical acceptance of authority. Adorno and his colleagues sought to understand the psychological factors that make individuals susceptible to ideologies that prioritize order and control over liberty.21

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authoritarianism
The appeal of authoritarian rule
…German philosopher Theodor Adorno published The Authoritarian Personality, which argues that some people exhibit personality traits that make them amenable to authoritarian rule. These characteristics include a general willingness to submit to authority, a rigid cognitive style, conventional moral values, and an aggressive attitude toward out-groups and those whose behaviour…
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…German philosopher Theodor Adorno published The Authoritarian Personality, which argues that some people exhibit personality traits that make them amenable to authoritarian rule. These characteristics include a general willingness to submit to authority, a rigid cognitive style, conventional moral values, and an aggressive attitude toward out-groups and those whose behaviour…
Read More

political science
Post-World War II trends and debates
…insights in their pioneering study The Authoritarian Personality (1950), which used a 29-item questionnaire to detect the susceptibility of individuals to fascist beliefs. The French political scientist Maurice Duverger’s Political Parties (1951) is still highly regarded, not only for its classification of parties but also for its linking of party…
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…insights in their pioneering study The Authoritarian Personality (1950), which used a 29-item questionnaire to detect the susceptibility of individuals to fascist beliefs. The French political scientist Maurice Duverger’s Political Parties (1951) is still highly regarded, not only for its classification of parties but also for its linking of party…
Read More