Аннотация:This paper presents the results of a study devoted to the analysis of the sources of interindividual variability of negative personality traits (supported by the Russian Foundation for Humanities, grant No. 15-06-10847a "Nature of variability of negative traits of personality: a twin study"). One of the objectives of the research is to study adaptive and non-adaptive components of negative personality traits. The paper discusses the adaptive components of authoritarianism. On a sample of 401 people (age 18 -78 years, M = 26,58, SD = 12,91) it was shown that individuals with higher levels of authoritarianism on average have greater life satisfaction. As it is said by C. MacInnis "being “bad” for others, generalized authoritarianism may be “good” for the self". It is assumed that this relationship is mediated by sense of control over difficult situations.