In the simulation, self-selected leaders are empowered to embezzle group assets for personal wealth

Evidence

At the beginning of the simulation, out of the blue, the facilitators ask for a leader to “emerge” in each region: “Whoever is going to be the leader of your region, stand up.” These “Elites” are then taken aside and given coats, ties, and hats to wear. They are also told that they will control the finances of their region, and can secretly divert some of their team’s assets into personal wealth (by buying chocolate dollars wrapped in gold paper). A “prize” (a book on the environment, it turns out) will be awarded at the end of the game to the Elite who has the greatest personal wealth, they learn. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1687

Categorization

• XREF: A designed experimental trigger for the vault’s claim that authoritarian followers tolerate and enable self-serving elites.