Authoritarians accept rumors and Big Lies regardless of their content

Evidence

Suppose, then, a vicious, outlandishly false rumor spreads through a community. Suppose an unfair stereotype circulates through a society. Suppose someone tells a Big Lie. Who will be inclined to believe these things, right off the bat, before we even consider the content of the rumor, stereotype, and lie? — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1208

Categorization

• SEED: Direct bridge to the Big Lie literature and misinformation research — an angle on how belief in false political narratives (election fraud, etc.) is predicted by authoritarian obedience before content ever matters.