The Authoritarian Personality

The Authoritarian Personality

This hugely influential study on the psychology of authoritarianism was written in answer to Hitlers Germany-and now rings more relevant than ever as fascism and anti-Semitism sweep across America.What makes a fascist? Are there character traits that make someone more likely to vote for the far right? The Authoritarian Personality is not only one of the most significant works of social psychology ever written, it also marks a milestone in the development of Adornos thought, showing him grappling with the problem of fascism and the reasons for Europes turn to reaction. Over half a century later, and with the rise of right-wing populism and the reemergence of the far-right in recent years, this hugely influential study remains as insightful and relevant as ever.This new edition includes an introduction by Frankfurt School scholar Peter E. Gordon and contains the first-ever publication of Adornos subsequent critical notes on the project.Adorno and his colleagues could easily have been describing Alex Joness paranoid InfoWars rants or the racist views expressed by many Trump supporters.-Molly Worthen, New York Times