HHS study links left-wing authoritarianism, gender ideology to support for political violence

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a study Aug. 26 finding that U.S. adults who scored higher on a measure of left-wing authoritarianism or more strongly endorsed “gender-affirming” medical interventions were more likely to say political violence could be justified. 

“This study raises important questions about what happens when ideology is given the authority of medicine,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine said in an Aug. 26 HHS press release. “The association between sex-rejecting clinical beliefs, authoritarian attitudes, and the justification of political violence warrant serious scientific scrutiny.” 

The preregistered survey of 1,208 U.S. adults examined respondents’ political beliefs, views on “gender-affirming” clinical practices, and willingness to justify violence across six politically charged scenarios. The report, titled “Where the Clinic Meets the Movement: Does Gender Ideology Arm Left-Wing Authoritarian Psychology?”, was commissioned by HHS and conducted by researchers affiliated with Rutgers University, the Manhattan Institute, and the Network Contagion Research Institute. 

Higher left-wing authoritarianism scores were associated with greater justification of violence in all six scenarios, with correlations ranging from 0.47 for violence against police to 0.54 for arson against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Stronger endorsement of gender-related clinical positions was also associated with greater justification of violence across all six scenarios, although the correlations were weaker, ranging from 0.23 to 0.35. A correlation of 1.00 indicates that the two measures move together in a perfectly consistent positive direction, while 0.00 indicates no consistent relationship between them.

Researchers defined left-wing authoritarianism as a psychological disposition characterized by aggression toward perceived oppressors, support for top-down censorship and institutional enforcement, and hostility toward conventional institutions. The authors distinguished those traits from ordinary liberal political views.

Respondents were asked whether violence could be justified in six cases: killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, killing President Donald Trump, killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, setting fire to ICE buildings, damaging wealthy people’s property, and committing violence against police.

To measure support for “transgender”-related clinical positions, researchers created a five-question Clinical Gender Affirmation Scale based on guidance from the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and American Academy of Pediatrics. The questions measured agreement with positions involving “gender identity,” preferred names and pronouns, medical interventions, and parental support.

“These findings suggest that gender ideology is associated with LWA [left-wing authoritarianism] and willingness to justify political violence,” the report states. “Experimental research is needed to determine causality.” 

The authors proposed that gender ideology “may function as an ideological accelerant, telling left-wing authoritarian psychology who the enemy is, why the situation is urgent, and — in those already disposed toward force — that violence is legitimate.”

Christine said in the release that the HHS would “continue to pursue rigorous research that examines these relationships and gives the American people the evidence they deserve.”