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Implications of Authoritarianism for Young Adulthood: Longitudinal Analysis of College Experiences and Future Goals

Smith College, bpeterso{at}science.smith.edu

Marian D. Lane

Smith College

Longitudinal data were used to explore links between right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and young adult development. Analyses demonstrated that 4 years of college were related to reductions in RWA and that high-RWA participants who majored in the liberal arts had lower grade point averages. No grade effects were found for students in the professional schools. Explanations centered on the difficulty that high-RWA students might have with the ambiguous nature of liberal arts knowledge (e.g., hermeneutics, conflicting theories and data). In terms of goals after graduation, men and women high on authoritarianism had different expectations. Men scoring high on RWA focused on career goals, whereas high-RWA women experienced career confusion and expected marriage to entail increased responsibilities without personal rewards. Both genders high on RWA were also uninterested in exploring aspects of identity. Although focused on young adulthood, this study suggests that links exist between developmental theory in general and authoritarianism.

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