{"product_id":"the-psychology-of-totalitarianism","title":"The Psychology of Totalitarianism","description":"\u003cp\u003eDesmet, Mattias\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTotalitarianism is not a coincidence and does not form in a vacuum. It arises from a collective psychosis that has followed a predictable script throughout history, its formation gaining strength and speed with each generation―from the Jacobins to the Nazis and Stalinists―as technology advances. Governments, mass media, and other mechanized forces use fear, loneliness, and isolation to demoralize populations and exert control, persuading large groups of people to act against their own interests, always with destructive results.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Psychology of Totalitarianism\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, world-renowned Professor of Clinical Psychology Mattias Desmet deconstructs the societal conditions that allow this collective psychosis to take hold. By looking at our current situation and identifying the phenomenon of “mass formation”―a type of collective hypnosis―he clearly illustrates how close we are to surrendering to totalitarian regimes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith detailed analyses, examples, and results from years of research, Desmet lays out the steps that lead toward mass formation, including:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn overall sense of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eloneliness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and lack of social connections and bonds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003elack of meaning\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e―unsatisfying “bullsh*t jobs” that don’t offer purpose\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFree-floating \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eanxiety\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and discontent that arise from loneliness and lack of meaning\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManifestation of\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e frustration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eaggression\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from anxiety\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmergence of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ea consistent narrative\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from government officials, mass media, etc., that exploits and channels frustration and anxiety \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn addition to clear psychological analysis―and building on Hannah Arendt’s essential work on totalitarianism, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Origins of Totalitarianism\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e―Desmet offers a sharp critique of the cultural groupthink that exists throughout society. He cautions against the dangers of our current cultural landscape, media consumption, and reliance on manipulative technologies and then offers simple solutions―both individual and collective―to prevent the willing sacrifice of our freedoms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ingram","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41303465721890,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0701\/1509\/8658\/files\/61VnqW3KkmL._SL1500.jpg?v=1707945097","url":"https:\/\/vaholocaust.myshopify.com\/products\/the-psychology-of-totalitarianism","provider":"Virginia Holocaust Museum Shop \u0026 Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}