General authoritarianism is a cognitive style, not a belief set

Evidence

Let me summarize this chapter with the observation that right-wing authoritarians have not caught some mysterious disease from outer space that affects their cognitive processes but leaves the rest of humanity untouched. They are not “them” while the rest of the world is “‘us.” Instead, I think they have just gotten an extra helping of some very common human weaknesses. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1442 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• 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 is a property of belief-change triggers, not belief content itself — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 680; Authoritarianism is not a single coherent psychological construct — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 525 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Authoritarians differ only in degree, not kind, from ordinary cognitive fallibility #complicates (0.78) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1442