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Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RWA)

Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RWA) Test

Understand tendencies toward conformity, submission to authority, and punitive attitudes in about 5 minutes. A brief 22 item measure that delivers clear, research-ready insight fast.

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Questions: 225 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,212 views

2,719 completions

2,231 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

66/180

Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA)

Measures tendency toward conventionalism, authoritarian submission, and support for punitive aggression against perceived norm violators.

Low–Moderate

High

20 – 99: Low–Moderate | 100 – 180: High

A score of 66 falls in the Low–Moderate range, suggesting relatively limited endorsement of strict traditional norms, deference to authority, and punitive attitudes toward dissenters.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Social science students

41%OF USERS

They take it for coursework or thesis projects to quantify authoritarian tendencies and compare groups.

Political psychology researchers

34%OF USERS

They use it in surveys and experiments to study conventionalism, submission to authority, and support for punitive norms.

Curious self-explorers

25%OF USERS

They want a quick personal snapshot of how strongly they prefer tradition, strict rules, and deference to authority.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RAS)

Average

129.8

Normal range

99.9 — 159.7

min.

max.

180

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses three related tendencies: conventionalism, authoritarian aggression, and authoritarian submission. Scores reflect endorsement of strict social norms, deference to established authority, and support for punitive responses to rule violations.

How is it completed?

Read each statement and select the response option that best matches the level of agreement. Answer all items based on typical views rather than unusual situations.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. The questionnaire contains 22 statements.

How should results be interpreted?

Higher scores indicate a stronger tendency toward the measured authoritarian attitudes and dispositions. Results are typically interpreted as continuous traits and are best compared across groups or time points.

Are there cultural or language limits on use?

It was developed for Western, especially U.S., cultural settings. Use in other contexts may require careful translation, adaptation, and local validation to reduce bias.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RWA) Test - Symptoms and Signs

social attitudes

This measure is designed to assess individual differences associated with authoritarian attitudes and related behavioral dispositions. The Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RWA) evaluates three commonly described facets: conventionalism, authoritarian aggression, and authoritarian submission.

It is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 22 items and typically requires about 5 minutes to complete. Items are presented as statements for which respondents indicate their level of agreement, yielding a score that can be used in research or clinical-adjacent settings to characterize authoritarianism-related tendencies. The Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (RWA) is most appropriately interpreted with attention to cultural and contextual factors, particularly when used outside the population for which it was originally developed.

Author: bob-altemeyer

Literature: John F. Dovidio, Miles Hewstone, Peter Glick, and Victoria M. Esses (Eds.). The SAGE handbook of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. SAGE Publications. 2010.; Milton Rokeach. The nature of human values. Free Press. 1973.; Bob Altemeyer. Enemies of freedom: Understanding right-wing authoritarianism. Jossey-Bass. 1988.; John T. Jost, Jack Glaser, Arie W. Kruglanski, and Frank J. Sulloway. Political conservatism as motivated social cognition. Psychological Bulletin. 2003.

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