Opposing the establishment does not require an authoritarian personality

Evidence

Not all psychological left-wingers (that is, people opposed to the established authorities) would be left-wing authoritarians. They may not be authoritarian at all, but may instead be highly independent individuals who want peaceful social reform. Color them “‘unauthoritarians.”’ Left-wing authoritarians are revolutionaries who (1) submit to movement leaders who must be obeyed, (2) have enemies who must be ruined, and (3) have rules and “‘party disci- pline” that must be followed. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 2847

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes left-wing authoritarians from ‘unauthoritarians’ — independent reformists — sharpening the construct’s boundaries.