Adolescent conflict with authority reduces later authoritarianism

Evidence

On balance, the Moderates’ experiences in adolescence made them less authoritarian than they had been earlier. They had gotten into disputes with their parents, teachers, the police, and came away feeling they had been unfairly treated. They had spotted hypocrisy in pews and privilege. They had enjoyed the independence a driver’s license brought. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1054

Categorization

• QUESTION: Does the direction of causality hold — do inherently non-authoritarian teens seek out these conflicts, or do the conflicts produce the moderation?
• XREF: connects to: Avoiding authoritarianism without directives can become neglectful laissez-faire teaching — James D. Kirylo (ed.), Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed:…, 736