The thesis of the authoritarian personality developed by Adorno et al. points to some kind of social pathology, to social constellations that have negative effect on individuals. However, there are many reasons to speak of the obsolescence of the thesis. Nowadays, the different social spheres no longer seem to follow the ideal of direct obedience but work with flat and liquid hierarchies. To justify the current relevance of the main logic of the authoritarian personality, the text follows the thesis of secondary authoritarianism closely linked to the emergence of the virtual sphere as a new public sphere. Taking up the argumentation of these studies, the present article aims to unfold secondary authoritarianism as a specific pathology, namely as a pathology of recognition. To elaborate this thesis, the logic of pathologies of recognition is presented in the first part following the work of Axel Honneth. In the second part, authoritarianism in the digital era is presented as a pathology of recognition or as an ideological recognition. The third part of the text serves to emphasize the materialistic character of the thesis. It will be seen that today’s authoritarian personalities are combined with egocentric, hedonistic and narcissistic personalities. Instead of being opposing personality forms, both lack a strong sense of self. The possibilities of creating non-pathological self-relationships through mutual recognition are hindered in the current material organization of the digital world.