Why an entry on Authoritarianism?
The Washington Post, Opinion by Garry Kasparov, A Russian pro-democracy activist and former world chess champion. February 13, 2017
“According to the Human Rights Foundation’s research, the citizens of 94 countries suffer under non-democratic regimes, meaning that 3.97 billion people are currently controlled by tyrants, absolute monarchs, military juntas, or competitive authoritarians. That’s 53 percent of the world’s population. Statistically, authoritarianism is one of the largest — if not the largest — challenges facing humanity…”
An authoritarian relationship typically induces partner long-term feelings of frustration and resentment, including feeling powerless, being controlled, and even suffocating under the sternness.
Most would agree that followers of an authoritarian leader must obey the rules and ideologies that adhere to the leader’s values. High-status authoritarian leaders from advantaged groups with the power to punish marginalized groups will do so. These leaders will threaten (or extinguish) any group or person who opposes them.
This entry examines authoritarianism from a psychological perspective. How it impacts a person’s well-being, outlook, and mental health. Three features of authoritarianism are examined:
What is it?
What’s its impact on you?
How to negotiate within it.
What is Authoritarianism?
There are many definitions. These depend on the source. This includes geopolitical, psychological, general social welfare, and lay definitions.
One lay dictionary (Merriam-Webster) defines authoritarianism as (n) 1: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority (had authoritarian parents). 2. : of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people (an authoritarian regime).
The American Psychological Association does not strictly define “authoritarianism.” Still, it does characterize an “authoritarian leader” as the type of leader who determines policy and makes decisions without seeking input from followers, rejects any suggestions from others, assigns tasks to group members without considering their preferences, and dominates interactions through frequent criticism.
We are all aware of (or perhaps even live with) someone like this. I could delve into the circumstances and early history that produced individuals with authoritarian qualities, but I will save this for later.
In our “technology revolution” age, our Western social system - parenting, values, ideals, and motivations - is ripe for individuals of this kind.
As a psychotherapist, I’ve encountered this client only a few times. This person rarely seeks therapy that, by its nature, involves self-reflection or personal evaluation.
Where can Authoritarianism be found?
Everywhere. In personal relationships, in families, in communities, in local and State leaders, and, of course, in World Leaders.
Fundamentalist Religions, are by their nature, Authoritarian. Some might call them “Benign Authoritarian” or a “Theocracy” or whatever, but Authoritarian they are. If you want to find this out, try an experiment. “Disagree with them them.”
Let’s engage in an experiment.
I will show images of anonymous and famous people. and you respond if you think this person is authoritarian. There is no Right or Wrong answer.
Is this person an Authoritarian?
IMAGES:
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
a. YES, b. NO, c Maybe, d Can’t Tell
This was NOT a test. How did you you decide?
I assume a first step is whether you have seen the image before. A second step is interpreting your: 1. knowledge of this person 2. your meaning of authoritarianism, and 3. The interaction of the two. A third step is examining the situation or context the person is in, for example, a police officer is an authority position. This does not mean the person in the picture is an authoritarian. Still, there is a higher likelihood that the person might be authoritarian if the person is in an authority position. The fourth step is evaluating individual characteristics. In your view, Are men more likely to be authority figures than women? Are persons who appear to have Asian characteristics more likely to be authoritarians than Caucasian or European-American-looking persons? Further, are older versus younger persons more authoritarian (this could interact with context, think: Techno-Optimism)? I could go on and on, but I stop here because I believe the point is made that authoritarianism always has a component of Subjectivity in it.
Most of us encountered our first real glimpse of authoritarianism in our parents or teachers. This likely occurred at a formative age and, depending on how you reacted to these early role models this probably set your view or opinion of whether you resonate to or are repelled by the authoritarian personality.
Who was the first genuinely authoritarian person/leader that you ever encountered?
Authoritarianism is a style, a teaching style, a living style, a parenting style, a relational style, a religious style (think Catholicism versus Unitarianism), and so forth. Human beings react to interpersonal styles in others. We may be persuaded to follow, emulate, or be repulsed and oppose a style. Generally, styles are never neutral, and we all develop a specific interpersonal style that shapes our worldview. Some styles can be subtle, some seductive, some overt and confrontive. All styles are designed around the intra-personal needs/demands/desires of the person who adopts that style. Styles are a way of getting what we want (for ourselves) and secondarily for others.
This is ALWAYS the case.
WHAT IS YOUR STYLE?
Below is a taxonomy for categorizing teacher styles (via authoritarianism). I don’t entirely agree with this stereotyping, but it is a good demonstration of how human beings think and categorize others.
The Impact of Authoritarianism
There are many ways to characterize the impact patterns of authoritarians, whether they are leaders, teachers, friends, lovers (so to speak), parents, or children:
Communication patterns
Downward, one-way communication (i.e. leaders to followers, supervisors to subordinates, parents to children, teachers to students)
Controls discussion with followers
Dominates interaction
Independently/unilaterally sets policy and procedures.
Individually directs the completion of tasks.
Does not offer feedback
Rewards acquiescent obedient behavior and punishes oppositional actions.
Poor listener
Uses conflict for individual gain
Am I an Authoritarian?
This is a tricky question to answer in the broadest sense of authoritarianism as a personal lifestyle. By this, I mean authoritarianism is context-specific. In parenting, leadership, communication, etc. I searched for a general authoritarianism questionnaire but had no luck finding it. I was left with a “Leadership Style Questionnaire” for emerging leaders. This questionnaire is generic enough to capture whether a person has generalized authoritarian intrapersonal tendencies. You can only imagine how these would impact you if you worked or lived under such a person. Read the statements and evaluate your rough position on (and whether you have been affected by) an “authoritarian leadership dimension.”
Members need to be supervised closely, or they are not likely to do their work.
It is fair to say that most general population members are lazy.
In complex situations, leaders should let members work out problems independently.
Members want to be a part of the decision-making process.
Guiding without pressure is the key to being a good leader.
As a rule, members must be given rewards or punishments to motivate them to achieve objectives.
Leadership requires staying out of the way of members as they work.
Most members want frequent and supportive communication from their leaders.
As a rule, leadership should allow members to appraise their work.
Most members feel insecure about their work and need direction.
Leaders need to help members accept responsibility for completing their work.
Leaders should give members the freedom to solve problems.
In most situations, members prefer little input from the leader.
The leader’s job is to help members find their “passion.”
The leader is the chief judge of the achievements of the members of a group.
Influential leaders give orders and clarify procedures.
In general, it is best to leave members alone.
People are competent if given a task and will do well.
I have not included the response stems to this questionnaire. Instead, I want this to be simply a thought exercise. Ponder each statement and ask yourself. What am I like in reference to this statement? How might I be impacted by someone who reflected patterns of positive or negative responses to these statements? Ultimately, it should be easy to determine if you lean towards a personal authoritarianism style (or some other interpersonal style).
The space/word end has arrived for this entry. It appears I need a Part II. I may need to shorten the development of my ideas. I’ll give this some thought. Maybe I’m just inefficient and need to tighten my wording. Old Professor’s habits died hard.
Unfortunately, you must wait for:”
Part II: Living (or Negotiating) with Authoritarians.