Authoritarianism

A new study from Lebanon finds that people with authoritarian beliefs tend to oppose violence against political leaders, while those high in social dominance orientation are more likely to support violence against rival group members.

A new study suggests that the way people learn to trust others early in life can shape their political ideology and preference for strong, dominant leaders—though not directly, but through dogmatic thinking and broader political attitudes.

A sweeping study of over 84,000 people across 59 countries found that individuals who feel threatened by crime, poverty, or instability are more likely to support authoritarian governance—especially in Western nations and among politically right-leaning individuals.

New research provides causal evidence that perceived societal breakdown—known as anomie—can increase support for authoritarianism by eroding feelings of control and increasing uncertainty.

A new cross-cultural study finds that people across 25 countries are more likely to support dominant, authoritarian leaders when facing intergroup conflict. The results suggest that humans may have evolved psychological instincts that favor forceful leadership during times of threat.

Researchers found that voters’ authoritarian tendencies influenced how they judged the psychopathic traits of 2016 presidential candidates. Those high in authoritarianism were more likely to view Trump favorably and Clinton as psychologically disordered—and vice versa.

A new study suggests that mothers who favor social hierarchies and obedience to authority use less perspective-taking language with their children—especially when discussing people from different ethnic backgrounds. Their children also show weaker ability to understand others’ thoughts and feelings.

The belief that only conservatives prefer authoritarian leaders is upended by new research showing ethnic minorities—regardless of political affiliation—are more supportive of strong leadership than White liberals. The study suggests generalized trust is a key psychological factor.

Do muscles make a man a better leader? That depends on your politics. A new study finds conservatives are drawn to strong men in leadership roles, while left-wing authoritarians are more likely to shy away from physical dominance.

A massive global study finds that people living in democratic nations are less likely to score high on the “dark triad” of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—and more likely to be empathetic and satisfied with life.

Contrary to popular belief, conspiracy theories may not drive democratic decline—rather, those who reject democracy seem more prone to conspiratorial thinking.

Neuroscientists have uncovered distinct brain structure patterns linked to authoritarian beliefs on both sides of the political spectrum.

A new study challenges the idea that authoritarian personality traits predict harsh punishment preferences, revealing a more complex picture of how people form sentencing opinions.

Individuals with strong right-wing authoritarian beliefs are more likely to perceive minoritized groups as a threat. This relationship was weaker in countries with higher religiosity or social marginalization, highlighting the influence of sociocultural context on authoritarian attitudes.

New research shows TikTok users encounter less content critical of China and more content aligned with pro-CCP narratives compared to other platforms. Heavy TikTok users also report more favorable views of China’s human rights record.