The late social scientist Robert Altermyer wrote a book called The Authoritarians. In it he describes "social dominators" and seperately "right wing authoritarian" followers. In a side by side comparison what makes them different from each other? Where do their interests overlap?
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Robert Altemeyer’s book The Authoritarians offers a detailed psychological profile of two distinct but often mutually reinforcing personality types: Social Dominators (SDOs) and Right-Wing Authoritarian Followers (RWAs). While they may end up on the same political or ideological “team,” they differ greatly in motivation, behavior, and worldview.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two types, followed by an explanation of where their interests overlap:
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Trait | Social Dominators (SDOs) | Right-Wing Authoritarian Followers (RWAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Motivation | Power, dominance, winning | Obedience, conformity, security |
| Personality Style | Manipulative, strategic, ruthless | Loyal, fearful, deferential |
| View of Authority | Want to be the authority | Want to obey the authority |
| Morality | Ends justify the means; amoral | Moral absolutism; “good vs evil” thinking |
| Attitude Toward Others | Contemptuous of the weak | Hostile to out-groups but loyal to in-group |
| Empathy | Low to none | Moderate for in-group, low for out-groups |
| Aggression | Proactive and strategic | Reactive and loyalist |
| Beliefs | Often cynical and disbelieving in ideology | Genuinely believe the ideology (e.g., nationalism, religion) |
| Relationship with Rules | Will break rules to dominate | Will enforce rules strictly if told to |
| Deceptiveness | Often lie and manipulate | Gullible and easy to deceive |
Where Their Interests Overlap
Although their motivations differ, SDOs and RWAs often work together, especially in authoritarian systems:
| Area of Overlap | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Support for authoritarian leaders | RWAs admire strong leaders; SDOs seek to become or serve those leaders for personal gain. |
| In-group loyalty | RWAs are loyal to their group; SDOs use group identity to rally support and control others. |
| Hostility toward outsiders | Both often show xenophobia, racism, or opposition to “out-groups,” though for different reasons. |
| Justification for aggression | SDOs rationalize it as necessary; RWAs see it as righteous when directed by authority. |
| Intolerance of dissent | RWAs fear it as disruptive; SDOs crush it as a threat to power. |
Summary
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SDOs are like the chess masters—they manipulate, dominate, and use ideology as a tool for control.
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RWAs are like the loyal foot soldiers—they follow rules, seek order, and are susceptible to fear-based messaging.
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Together, they often form the backbone of authoritarian systems: the SDOs lead, and the RWAs follow.
Altemeyer found this alliance especially dangerous in political systems where the SDOs exploit the fears and loyalty of RWAs to amass and hold power—despite not actually believing in the ideals they promote.
How do SDOs and RWAs correlate with Donald Trump and his followers?
Robert Altemeyer himself, along with John Dean (of Watergate fame), explicitly linked Donald Trump and his base to the SDO-RWA dynamic in their book Authoritarian Nightmare (2020). Here's a breakdown of how Donald Trump maps onto the Social Dominator (SDO) profile, and how many of his followers resemble Right-Wing Authoritarian Followers (RWAs):
Donald Trump as a Social Dominator (SDO)
Altemeyer’s analysis shows Trump fits the SDO profile almost perfectly:
| Trait | Evidence in Trump’s Behavior |
|---|---|
| Desire for dominance and control | Repeated emphasis on “winning,” power, loyalty tests, control over media/narrative |
| Amorality | Frequent lying, disregard for norms, use of threats and insults |
| Manipulativeness | Use of disinformation, gaslighting, scapegoating enemies |
| Lack of empathy | Dismissal of COVID deaths, mocking the disabled, separating families at the border |
| Disdain for democratic norms | Attempts to overturn the 2020 election, attacks on the judiciary and press |
| Hypocrisy and cynicism | Panders to religious/right-wing values while clearly not believing in them personally |
Altemeyer considered Trump’s score on the Social Dominance Orientation scale to be extremely high—"through the roof."
Trump’s Base as Right-Wing Authoritarian Followers (RWAs)
Many of Trump’s most loyal followers exhibit the three defining traits of RWAs:
1. Authoritarian Submission
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Loyalty to Trump, even when he contradicts norms, laws, or reality
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Belief that Trump is a “strong leader” sent to save the country
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Obedience to his word over traditional institutions
2. Authoritarian Aggression
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Anger at dissenters (journalists, protesters, Democrats)
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Support for violence when framed as necessary to “protect America” (e.g., Jan 6, “lock her up” chants)
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Dehumanizing of out-groups (immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ+ people, “the liberal elite”)
3. Conventionalism
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Strong attachment to traditional norms (gender roles, religion, nationalism)
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Outrage at changing cultural values (e.g., CRT panic, “war on Christmas”)
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Tendency to view political conflict in black-and-white moral terms
How the SDO–RWA Dynamic Plays Out with Trump
| Dynamic | Real-World Manifestation |
|---|---|
| SDO manipulates RWA fears | Trump amplifies fear of immigrants, crime, socialism, etc., to mobilize his base |
| RWA provides unwavering loyalty | Even when Trump’s claims are false or self-serving, his followers support him |
| Mutual reinforcement | The more Trump defies the “elites,” the more RWAs love him; the more loyalty they show, the more power he grabs |
| Disregard for truth or consistency | RWAs tolerate contradictions if they feel Trump is defending “their side” |
| Erosion of democratic norms | Enabled by SDO's disregard for rules and RWA’s preference for order over freedom |
Summary
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Trump = Social Dominator: Seeks power for its own sake, uses manipulation, shows little empathy or moral concern.
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Many Trump supporters = RWAs: Seek safety, order, and a strong leader; easily swayed by fear-based rhetoric; deeply loyal.
This toxic alliance, as Altemeyer warned, can be extremely dangerous to democracy—because it aligns manipulative leadership with blind, obedient loyalty.
If you want, I can show how this dynamic compares historically (e.g., with fascist movements), or unpack how to counter it.
ChatGPT July 2025
