Robert Anthony Altemeyer (born 6 June 1940) is a retired Professor of Psychology at the University of Manitoba. He produced the test and scale for "RWA" or right-wing authoritarianism. He did research on authoritarianism, identifying the psychological makeup of authoritarian followers and authoritarian leaders. His studies concentrated on who the followers are, how they got that way, how they think and why they are by turns so submissive and aggressive. His research is documented in the book, The Authoritarians., His latest book, Authoritarian Nightmare, co-written by John W. Dean, is a book about U.S. President Donald Trump and his authoritarian followers.