Fluctuations of Authoritarianism in Society

Abstract

This analysis aimed first to construct and test an empirical time series model of authoritarianism in society. Using rival theoretical assumptions of authoritarianism a number of models were built from available time-series. and the models were subsequently tested by time series analysis. The main models were developed from the assumptions of the psycho-dynamic approach of Adorno et aI. (1950), the cognitive-learning approach of Altemeyer (1988) and the economic approach of authoritarianism (Sales 1972, 1973). Second, the analysis aimed to test some basic reactions to authoritarianism in society. The main assumption tested was that large scale social phenomena like authoritarianism will have an impact on individual authoritarianism, that in turn will also be related to more specific individual behaviors. This was examined by cross-correlations with time lags analysis and by path analysis.