Authoritarian aggression channels into conventional targets like minorities.

Evidence

In contrast, for Adorno et al ., people are not ‘potentially and intentionally good people’ but rather potentially and intentionally ‘bad’, corrupted by their inner psychology and impulses, and by strict and conformist rearing practices in highly hierarchized societies. The authoritarian type of person is depicted as the prejudiced, dogmatic person that has to resolve a number of intra-psychic confl icts, and for whom the choice of a particular target group for the projection of aggressive and destructive impulses (tendencies) is secondary. — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice, 274 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

If social deviants and certain minority groups provide ready targets for authoritarian aggression, others can be victims as well. The authoritarian is more likely to attack a conventional person than a nonauthoritarian is, if an established authority sanctions it. This power of authority figures to direct the hostility of authoritarians against almost any target increases the danger of authoritarian aggression to all in a society. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 153 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Propaganda steers latent aggression toward selected social targets. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1812; High authoritarians readily support persecution of groups including their own. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 917; Typical populist movements blend egalitarian and authoritarian elements — Ernesto Laclau, On Populist Reason, 7 (+14 more)

Broader Connections

• Authoritarians project aggression onto whichever target group is available #corroborates (0.95) — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice, 274
• High authoritarians endorse submission and aggression regardless of target ideology #complicates (0.82)
• Authorities can redirect authoritarian aggression toward almost any target #complicates (0.80) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 153