Oxytocin, trust and corruption: a systemic theory of the road to authoritarism

Abstract

In this text I propose a systemic theory about the process through which societies become authoritarian. I postulate, at the micro or individual level, a triadic structure of tendencies towards others (trust, suspicion and hostility); and I link it, at the macro or social level, to a group of structural factors (inequity and distrust), triggers (social, economical or political crisis) and catalysts (presence of a caudillo with a populist discourse and authoritarian leaning).  Finally, I present some guidelines for the empirical testing of this theory.