Left-Wing Authoritarianism Tied to Grievance and Psychological Distress

May 4, 2026 - 21:32

A new study challenges the long-held assumption that authoritarianism is a trait exclusive to the political right. Researchers have found that authoritarian tendencies also emerge on the far left, and they are strongly linked to a person's focus on perceived social grievances and underlying psychological distress.

The study, published in a recent psychology journal, examined how rigid, dogmatic thinking manifests across the political spectrum. While right-wing authoritarianism is often associated with submission to traditional authority and aggression toward outsiders, left-wing authoritarianism appears to center on a different set of triggers. The key drivers, according to the findings, are a heightened sense of victimization and a belief that society is fundamentally unjust.

Participants who scored high on measures of left-wing authoritarianism also reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and general psychological distress. The research suggests that these emotional states may fuel a need for certainty and a black-and-white worldview. Instead of looking to established institutions for order, left-wing authoritarians tend to seek rigid ideological purity within their own group and demand conformity to a specific set of progressive norms.

The study's authors caution against using these findings to dismiss all left-wing political views as authoritarian. Rather, the research highlights that the psychological roots of extremism are not limited to one side of the aisle. When people feel deeply wronged and are struggling with their own mental health, they may become more susceptible to dogmatic thinking, regardless of their political label. This helps explain why political polarization can intensify during times of widespread social stress.