Friday, December 15, 2023

Trump’s Etiology and His Herd (2021)


©Antti Talvitie, 2021

Trump’s Etiology and His Herd

Antti Talvitie (aptalvitie(at)gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

The first part of the paper is a diagnosis of Mr. Trump’s psyche based on publicly available material and informed by psychoanalytic theory and case studies. It portends that events in Trump’s infancy have caused irreversible mental disorders, among them a fetish, the psycho-physical origin of his lying, and ignorance about the truth; and a “split” psyche resembling psychosis, with ‘repudiation of femininity’, reverence to strong leaders, use of ‘ad hominem’ labels, conspiracy theories, and threats of violence. This, and obfuscation in the courts are the ‘new normal‘.  Rational dialogue with Trump is futile.

The second part examines why trumpism has emerged as a powerful political and social ‘organization’.  Why has his herd become hypnotized to accept the ‘new normal’ of lies and lying, fake news, election fraud, conspiracy theories, and tacit provocations for violence? A three-group taxonomy -- normal, hypnotic, psychotic -- of ‘cultural communities’ is used to discuss, analyze, and interpret group behaviors with experiential knowledge about them.

The paper concludes with Freud’s thoughts about psychoanalysis of ‘cultural communities’ and the importance of meaningful dialogue.  Both would challenge the ‘new normal’, contribute to the pursuit of truth; eschew subversive behavior; reduce polarization, hate, and violence; and accept differences of opinions without restricting freedom of expression and avoidance of struggles.

Keywords: Trump’s base, Fetish, Split ego, Group taxonomy, Trump’s herd, Group analysis

FULL PAPER, Pdf, 1264 KB, 24 pages.

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