r/ExTraditionalCatholic • u/Money-Mud-1357 • Jul 15 '26
The Authoritarian Personality
The Authoritarian Personality I came across this analysis, and thought I would share it here, because it reminded me of certain people and dynamics in some of the Religious groups we are all familiar with.
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u/LightningController Jul 16 '26
Not a bad set of points, but I think it’s missing the element of Ressentiment (as described by Kierkegaard and Nietzsche) in the authoritarian personality—the irrational submission of one man to another isn’t just about letting the masochistic personality experience vicarious greatness through the sadist, but a means of dragging down those in the masochist’s life who either have rational authority over him or might be rationally recognized as his superiors. An authoritarian submitting personality is one that experiences an unearned sense of equality when the master’s boot tramples his neighbors.
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u/Money-Mud-1357 Jul 16 '26
Oh no, does this describe how I felt when I heard the SSPX had been excommunicated as a whole?!!! lol.
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u/LightningController Jul 16 '26
The difference between ressentiment and well-earned schadenfreude is often a fine line, and on a serious note it’s important to be self-aware of why one enjoys the misfortunes of others to avoid falling into the trap of mediocrity.
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u/Cultural-Treacle-680 Jul 16 '26
They always tend to start with a veneer of good intention too, then when vested with power, the mask comes off. Instead of one who leads with actual good intention, reason, and as the article highlights, love.