Authoritarian thinking features closed-mindedness, rigidity, and intolerance of ambiguity

Evidence

Among the major features of how authoritarians think are closedmindedness, rigidity, categorical (black-or-white, all-or-none) preferences and attitudes, and intolerance of ambiguity. Authoritarians tend to have low need for cognition (they do not enjoy thinking hard), low cognitive complexity (they fail to recognize the legitimacy of alternative perspectives or to find integra­ tive solutions), and high needs for structure and closure (they seize upon quick conclusions and dismiss contradictory ideas; see Budner, 1962; Cacioppo & Petty, 1982; Kruglanski, 1989; Rokeach, 1960; Schroder, Driver, & Streufert, 1967; Suedfeld, 2000; Suedfeld & Tetlock, 2001). — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 469

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the cognitive-style features of authoritarian thought: closed-mindedness, rigidity, categorical preferences, intolerance of ambiguity.
• XREF: connects to: Authoritarianism can manifest on the political left as well as right — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 446; Authoritarianism is not a single coherent psychological construct — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 525; Authoritarianism reflects a personality pattern of dutifulness, order, and low openness (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Authoritarianism reflects a personality pattern of dutifulness, order, and low openness #expands (0.82)
• Rigid cognitive style drives authoritarianism but not prejudice directly #corroborates (0.78) — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 471
• Authoritarians reason in isolated compartments without perspective-taking #corroborates (0.75) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1569
• Authoritarian personality traits co-correlate robustly except for status-concern and cognitive rigidity #qualifies (0.75) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 651
• Compartmentalized thinking leads authoritarians to apply inconsistent standards to similar acts #corroborates (0.72)