The caustic stench of bitter coffee mingles with the metallic tang of spite that hangs in the air as another middle-aged man in a faded red cap smirks at his phone, thumbs pounding out another "I love the sound of Democrats panicking in the morning" comment.
When reading the part about identity fusion, I saw an analogy with the "Borg" from 'the Enterprise ' series. And sadly, any trekkie knows how hard, virtually impossible, it is to get one of these victims out of their imprisonement, and it always leaves a scar or two.
Excellent analysis of the psychological disorders of people who relish hurting others. When we have a too powerful person like MuskX declaring that empathy ruined Western Civilization, we should realize that psychopaths are in charge of our federal government system, and many of our states. It is a disease that will be extremely hard to diminish, let alone erase. There is no vaccination for it; and if there was, the oppressors would refuse it. The solutions Wendy proposes are good ones. A massive change of consciousness to have people regard empathy as a paramount virtue, education on media literacy, and emphasis in education and cultural habits to embrace moral judgements that people must want to treat others safely and helpfully as they wish to be treated, is critical.
This article reaffirms a thought I’ve had that when TFG finally does go away (die) there is going to be a crisis of millions of people (his followers) basically unable to function, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I don’t know how that can be healed.
Wow. Your writing just blows me away. I never knew there were people who studied things like political psychology and all the dangerous conditions associated with it. Kind of terrifying that this needs to be a thing.
This is one essay I'm bookmarking to reread slowly so I can get as much as possible out of it. It completely explains the rabid behavior of Dementia Donnie's fanboys. And girls.
If only the people who needed this truth so badly, could read and comprehend what you are saying. The world would be a better place for all humans to live and survive in. But I truly believe that MAGA republicans will have none of the facts that you provide in this article 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
Truly revealing article, Wendy. I am so confused by my elderly clients that I grew up with at church now displaying a “Leftist tears” tumbler at their home. They are Christians for Gods sake. Being Sadistic as a Christian was not on my bingo card.. explains a lot. Super good research my dear.
I was working on another article when I saw this pop up that has a partially related topic. Schadenfreude is a well-exercised term in my vocabulary! :). But the thing that I wanted to add when I read about confirmation bias is the ever-increasing role of tech, specifically AI-driven bots, to drive the engine of the echo chambers on X. They're impossible to identify without the metadata that X.com gets on the posts, but the source analysis by University of Cambridge researchers showed a better-than-68% likelihood that posts 1 level down in the hierarchy on X inside of accounts known to be right-leaning are --> AI bots <--!.
This gets to be a problem when taken in the context of the diseases you discuss because we essentially have a "manufactured stimulant" driving the psychological downward spiral effect. Wanted to point that out.
I’m still processing your noteworthy article. It was chilling to read, yet extremely helpful in understanding the pathologies of malicious behavior (schadenfreude) as a clinical symptom. Bringing to light and pointing out the diagnosis that Insecure Dingleberry Donny Chump and his magat following are suffering from, however, I believe you cannot rehabilitate these individuals, the leader must lose his power, and then maybe….maybe not. Thank you Wendy for your research, reporting and writing on this exemplary article.
This is an excellent piece (article? Essay? I never know what to call the wonderful Substack writings)! You have helped me understand these behaviors as pathologies. I have been wondering why so many people in this country behave this way. It goes beyond cult membership, and makes much more sense. Thank you, Wendy! ❤️
You are a brilliant human. That was alarming, interesting, creepy, well said, intuitively correct, helpful - and I just need to sit with it a minute. We all do know these people, and they’re pretty easy to recognize. And I’ve personally seen hearts and brains like that change radically in group therapy sessions for addiction treatment. Not all, but most. They’ve gone on to ‘pay it forward’ in some really meaningful ways, too. Alumni groups raising money as 501c3 for shelters, etc. Authentic concern and compassion heals. Round them up and put them in love based reparenting “concentration” camps? Sheesh. They are ill but so dangerous.
This is a remarkable analysis. I am aware of certain symptoms in the elderly that reflect what you are describing: for instance — an elderly person who has never used curse words in their life. Yet, after certain diagnosable changes in the brain due to dementia, that person cannot speak without using curse words. I’m sure there are other examples as well. Is there any consideration of age-related reasons for this? Or are you saying that it can affect anyone who dwells in that mindset after a time?
Enlightening information that is also terrifying.
Food for 💭 🤔
When reading the part about identity fusion, I saw an analogy with the "Borg" from 'the Enterprise ' series. And sadly, any trekkie knows how hard, virtually impossible, it is to get one of these victims out of their imprisonement, and it always leaves a scar or two.
Excellent analysis of the psychological disorders of people who relish hurting others. When we have a too powerful person like MuskX declaring that empathy ruined Western Civilization, we should realize that psychopaths are in charge of our federal government system, and many of our states. It is a disease that will be extremely hard to diminish, let alone erase. There is no vaccination for it; and if there was, the oppressors would refuse it. The solutions Wendy proposes are good ones. A massive change of consciousness to have people regard empathy as a paramount virtue, education on media literacy, and emphasis in education and cultural habits to embrace moral judgements that people must want to treat others safely and helpfully as they wish to be treated, is critical.
This article reaffirms a thought I’ve had that when TFG finally does go away (die) there is going to be a crisis of millions of people (his followers) basically unable to function, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I don’t know how that can be healed.
Wow. Your writing just blows me away. I never knew there were people who studied things like political psychology and all the dangerous conditions associated with it. Kind of terrifying that this needs to be a thing.
This is one essay I'm bookmarking to reread slowly so I can get as much as possible out of it. It completely explains the rabid behavior of Dementia Donnie's fanboys. And girls.
If only the people who needed this truth so badly, could read and comprehend what you are saying. The world would be a better place for all humans to live and survive in. But I truly believe that MAGA republicans will have none of the facts that you provide in this article 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
Truly revealing article, Wendy. I am so confused by my elderly clients that I grew up with at church now displaying a “Leftist tears” tumbler at their home. They are Christians for Gods sake. Being Sadistic as a Christian was not on my bingo card.. explains a lot. Super good research my dear.
I was working on another article when I saw this pop up that has a partially related topic. Schadenfreude is a well-exercised term in my vocabulary! :). But the thing that I wanted to add when I read about confirmation bias is the ever-increasing role of tech, specifically AI-driven bots, to drive the engine of the echo chambers on X. They're impossible to identify without the metadata that X.com gets on the posts, but the source analysis by University of Cambridge researchers showed a better-than-68% likelihood that posts 1 level down in the hierarchy on X inside of accounts known to be right-leaning are --> AI bots <--!.
This gets to be a problem when taken in the context of the diseases you discuss because we essentially have a "manufactured stimulant" driving the psychological downward spiral effect. Wanted to point that out.
I’m still processing your noteworthy article. It was chilling to read, yet extremely helpful in understanding the pathologies of malicious behavior (schadenfreude) as a clinical symptom. Bringing to light and pointing out the diagnosis that Insecure Dingleberry Donny Chump and his magat following are suffering from, however, I believe you cannot rehabilitate these individuals, the leader must lose his power, and then maybe….maybe not. Thank you Wendy for your research, reporting and writing on this exemplary article.
Also running here: https://www.wonkette.com/p/sneaky-carney-goes-behind-trumps/comment/102854829 :) :)
Fascinating! Impressive amount of serious research too. It confirms what most of us know, that none of this shit is normal!
That first paragraph is pure fucking poetry.
Agree! This is an excellent and thorough scientific analysis! Thank you for the work!
This is an excellent piece (article? Essay? I never know what to call the wonderful Substack writings)! You have helped me understand these behaviors as pathologies. I have been wondering why so many people in this country behave this way. It goes beyond cult membership, and makes much more sense. Thank you, Wendy! ❤️
As I live and breathe
You are a brilliant human. That was alarming, interesting, creepy, well said, intuitively correct, helpful - and I just need to sit with it a minute. We all do know these people, and they’re pretty easy to recognize. And I’ve personally seen hearts and brains like that change radically in group therapy sessions for addiction treatment. Not all, but most. They’ve gone on to ‘pay it forward’ in some really meaningful ways, too. Alumni groups raising money as 501c3 for shelters, etc. Authentic concern and compassion heals. Round them up and put them in love based reparenting “concentration” camps? Sheesh. They are ill but so dangerous.
I mean the trumpers attack me https://thistleandmoss.com/p/trumps-bad-week-just-got-fucking/comment/102804058?r=4r7yty&utm_medium=ios
This is a remarkable analysis. I am aware of certain symptoms in the elderly that reflect what you are describing: for instance — an elderly person who has never used curse words in their life. Yet, after certain diagnosable changes in the brain due to dementia, that person cannot speak without using curse words. I’m sure there are other examples as well. Is there any consideration of age-related reasons for this? Or are you saying that it can affect anyone who dwells in that mindset after a time?
Anyone with that mindset