Robert Anthony Altemeyer (6 June 1940 – 7 February 2024) was a Canadian psychologist who was Professor of Psychology at theUniversity of Manitoba.^[1][2] Altemeyer also produced theright-wing authoritarianism scale, or RWA Scale,^[3] as well as the relatedleft-wing authoritarianism scale, or LWA Scale.^[4]

Altemeyer first defined the right-wing authoritarian personality in 1981,^[5] as a refinement of theauthoritarian personality theory originally pioneered byUniversity of California, Berkeley researchersTheodor W. Adorno,Else Frenkel-Brunswik,Daniel Levinson, andNevitt Sanford.^[6] Altemeyer defined the right-wing authoritarian personality as someone who:

1. is naturally submissive to authority figures that they consider to be legitimate,
2. acts aggressively in the name of said authority figures, and/or
3. is very conventional (i.e. conformist) in thought and behavior.^[5]

Altemeyer performed extensive research onauthoritarianism, identifying the psychological makeup of authoritarian followers, andauthoritarian leaders. His studies concentrated on who the followers are, how they got that way, how they think, and why they tend to be submissive and aggressive. He also collected data on authoritarianism among North American politicians.^[7]

Altemeyer documented his research in several books, most recently for general audiences inThe Authoritarians, written at the suggestion ofJohn W. Dean.^[8][9] Altemeyer's work is referenced in Dean's 2006 book,Conservatives Without Conscience.^[3][10] Altemeyer's last book,Authoritarian Nightmare, co-written by Dean,^[11] is a book about U.S. PresidentDonald Trump and his authoritarian followers.

His son,Rob Altemeyer, was an NDPMLA in theManitoba Legislature from 2003 to 2019.^[12]

Altemeyer died on 7 February 2024, at the age of 83.^[13][14]

Altemeyer was awarded theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science Prize for Behavioral Science Research in 1986.^[15]

Scholia has a profile forBob Altemeyer(Q4931655).

• Dean, John; Altemeyer, Bob (2020).Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and His Followers. Brooklyn: Melville House.ISBN 978-1612199054.
• Altemeyer, Bob (2009).Sex and Youth: A Twenty-Four Year Investigation. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba.OCLC 516955225.
• Altemeyer, Bob (2006).The Authoritarians. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba.OCLC 191061772. Archived fromthe original on 2016-10-04. Retrieved2017-05-12. and several subsequent postscripts: Comment on the 2008 election,^[16] Comment on the Tea Party movement^[17] and a short comment on Donald Trump.^[18]
• Hunsberger, Bruce; Altemeyer, Bob (2006).Atheists: A Groundbreaking Study of America's Nonbelievers. Amherst: Prometheus Books.ISBN 978-1591024132.
• Altemeyer, Bob; Hunsberger, Bruce (1997).Amazing Conversions: Why Some Turn to Faith and Others Abandon Religion. Amherst: Prometheus Books.ISBN 978-1573921473.
• Altemeyer, Bob (1996).The Authoritarian Specter. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.ISBN 0-674-05305-2.
• Altemeyer, Bob (1988).Enemies of Freedom: Understanding Right-Wing Authoritarianism. Mississauga: Jossey-Bass.ISBN 978-1555420970.
• Altemeyer, Bob (1981).Right-Wing Authoritarianism. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press.ISBN 0-88755-124-6.

• The Authoritarians Bob Altemeyer's personal website

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• 1940 births
• 2024 deaths
• Canadian psychologists
• Canadian agnostics
• Academic staff of the University of Manitoba
• Carnegie Mellon University alumni

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