The Donald Trump that Every One Needs to Understand

In 2006 John Dean (of Watergate fame) published his book Conservatives Without Conscience. In that book Dean went to considerable effort to describe the work of a Canadian social psychologist Bob Altemeyer largely concerning those who slavishly follow authoritarian leaders. Altemeyer had published a book on this subject entitled The Authoritarian Specter (Harvard University Press, 1996) in which he set out his experimental results concerning the beliefs and behavior of people (authoritarian followers) who fall in line behind authoritarian leaders. Dean was interested in this work because it seemed pertinent to an understanding of much of the support for George W. Bush’s presidency and administration. Dean was apparently so impressed by Altemeyer’s work that he convinced him to write up this work in a form more accessible to non-specialists who do not need all the details of the experimental and statistical techniques but might be interested in a non-technical description of the results Altemeyer obtained as well as his conclusions.

In response, Altemeyer took Dean’s suggestion to heart and in 2006 produced an e-book entitled The Authoritarians which is free for downloading in pdf form on his website. URL -—

members.shaw.ca/... . In my opinion this e-book is exceptionally and frighteningly pertinent to an understanding of both Trump’s con job during the election campaign and the way he will govern, as well of the mindset of his millions of followers. If you do decide look at this e-book, do not be put off by Altemeyer’s breezy (easy reading) style, rather take the time to really get into it. I highly recommend this e-book; you will be rewarded for your effort.