Chamblee54

After World War II, people wondered why so many other people agreed with the fascist dictators. Some “research” was done, and a book came out, The Authoritarian Personality (Studies in Prejudice). It was influential at the time, but is somewhat discredited today. The concept is that some people are more authoritarian than others. This mindset is also known as dogmatism and facsism.
A test was devised to determine a person’s tendency to authoritarianism. The most popular version on google is at the Anesi website. It is named for Chuck Anesi, who apparently is the blog perpetrator. He focuses on fascism, and has a helpful companion page, What is Fascism? Seventy years after the Third Reich, fascist has become a meaningless insult. Terms like Islamo-fascist are tossed around, without much thought as to whether or not they make sense.
The F scale test here is 30 statements. You choose from six answers to each. They are 1-Disagree Strongly, 2-Disagree Mostly, 3-Disagree Somewhat, 4-,Agree Somewhat, 5-Agree Mostly, 6-Agree Strongly. The more that you agree, the more fascist you are.
When PG took the test, his score was 2.6. This means “you are a liberal airhead”. The other possible scores were: Less than 2 – A whining rotter. 2 to 3 – A liberal airhead. 3 to 4.5 – Within normal limits; an appropriate score for an American. 4.5 to 5.5 – You may want to practice doing things with your left hand. 5.5 or higher – Have trouble keeping the lint off your black shirts?
Here are the thirty statements: [1] Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues children should learn.[2] A person who has bad manners, habits, and breeding can hardly expect to get along with decent people. [3] If people would talk less and work more, everybody would be better off. [4] The business man and the manufacturer are much more important to society than the artist and the professor. [5] Science has its place, but there are many important things that can never be understood by the human mind. [6] Every person should have complete faith in some supernatural power whose decisions he obeys without question. [7] Young people sometimes get rebellious ideas, but as they grow up they ought to get over them and settle down. [8] What this country needs most, more than laws and political programs, is a few courageous, tireless, devoted leaders in whom the people can put their faith. [9] No sane, normal, decent person could ever think of hurting a close friend or relative. [10] Nobody ever learned anything really important except through suffering. [11] What the youth needs most is strict discipline, rugged determination, and the will to work and fight for family and country. [12] An insult to our honor should always be punished. [13] Sex crimes, such as rape and attacks on children, deserve more than mere imprisonment; such criminals ought to be publicly whipped, or worse. [14] There is hardly anything lower than a person who does not feel a great love, gratitude, and respect for his parents. [15] Most of our social problems would be solved if we could somehow get rid of the immoral, crooked, and feebleminded people. [16] Homosexuals are hardly better than criminals and ought to be severely punished. [17] When a person has a problem or worry, it is best for him not to think about it, but to keep busy with more cheerful things. [18] Nowadays more and more people are prying into matters that should remain personal and private. [19] Some people are born with an urge to jump from high places. [20] People can be divided into two distinct classes: the weak and the strong. [21] Some day it will probably be shown that astrology can explain a lot of things. [22] Wars and social troubles may someday be ended by an earthquake or flood that will destroy the whole world. [23] No weakness or difficulty can hold us back if we have enough will power. [24] It is best to use some prewar authorities in Germany to keep order and prevent chaos. [25] Most people don’t realize how much our lives are controlled by plots hatched in secret places. [26] Human nature being what it is, there will always be war and conflict. [27] Familiarity breeds contempt. [28] Nowadays when so many different kinds of people move around and mix together so much, a person has to protect himself especially carefully against catching an infection or disease from them. [29] The wild sex life of the old Greeks and Romans was tame compared to some of the goings-on in this country, even in places where people might least expect it. [30] The true American way of life is disappearing so fast that force may be necessary to preserve it. Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives,Georgia State University Library”. HT to Backstory Radio. This is written like Mario Puzo.