Authoritarian traits meaningfully shape behavior despite situational influences

Evidence

Oh, I know as a card-carrying social psychologist that personal authoritarianism will interact with situational factors. No one, I hope, expects High RWAs always to submit to authority or to betray their dislike of minorities indiscriminately. But the research indicates that in many contexts, it matters a lot how authoritarian people happen to be. It matters who we are. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 591

Categorization

• APHORISMS: “It matters who we are” — a compact statement on the person-situation debate, arguing individual disposition carries real weight.
• XREF: connects to: Authoritarian personality theory holds that a psychological structure, not objective circumstances, determines fascist character — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1780; Authoritarianism operates independent of status-threat condition — Brenda Major and Alison Blodorn and Gregory Major Blascovich, The threat of increasing diversity: Why…, 73; Personal disposition predicted clinging longer than leadership role — Andrew Demshuk, The Lost German East: Forced Migration…, 948 (+2 more)