Christopher Federico Examines the Role of Authoritarianism in America’s Political Polarization
According to a new book by Christopher Federico, faculty, and his coauthors Stanley Feldman and Christopher Weber, published by the Oxford University Press, authoritarian attitudes have become a powerful force in shaping partisan identity and voting behavior in the United States over the past 30 years.
Based on national surveys and lab studies, Federico and his colleagues explore how authoritarianism has become a primary driver of political "sorting" in the U.S., moving people into distinct partisan camps based on their psychological predispositions. This sorting, which is primarily limited to White Americans, looks different depending on one’s level of education and it is intensified when political parties offer clear, contrasting choices that specifically appeal to high-authoritarian or low-authoritarian worldviews. According to Federico and his coauthors, authoritarianism is increasingly dictating how Americans vote, their sociocultural beliefs, and how they perceive ideological differences between parties.
Christopher M. Federico, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychology and Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, and part of the Center for the Study of Political Psychology. His research examines political attitudes, identity, and perceptions of power.
Composed by Nguyen Kiet Pham, communications assistant.
