The Psychology of Totalitarianism

by Mattias Desmet

Book Overview

The world is in the grips of mass formation--a dangerous, collective type of hypnosis--as we bear witness to loneliness, free-floating anxiety, and fear giving way to censorship, loss of privacy, and surrendered freedoms. It is all spurred by a singular, focused crisis narrative that forbids dissident views and relies on destructive groupthink.

Desmet's work on mass...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1645021726
• ISBN13: 9781645021728
• Release Date: June 2022
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Company
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Must Reading for the Thinking Person

If you struggle to understand the madness that took over so many of your neighbors during the covid debacle, this psychiatrist explains "mass formation." Why and how do groups become locked into a uniform way of thinking even when that thinking is absurd and causes them harm? Desmet gives examples both contemporary and historical. He also addresses conspiracies and things that only appear to be so, but are actually just groups behaving predictably and automatically. This is a deep dive into the human mind. Despite the heaviness of the topic, Desmet manages to offer encouragement. I'm glad I read this.