Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Populism

Abstract

In this article, I discuss some psychoanalytic aspects of populism, an anti-pluralistic political perspective, and the attraction of vulnerable groups to a populist leader. I stress Freud's work on group psychology and utilize contemporary writings to illustrate the plight of vulnerable groups and some of the reasons for their attraction to powerful, aggressive, leaders. The autobiographical report, Hillbilly Elegy (Vance, 2016), is central to my discussion. Profound economic disruptions can result in a group's loss of self-esteem and sense of empowerment. Thus, these vulnerable groups attempt to deal with such traumatic experiences by utilizing maladaptive defense mechanisms, such as denial and projection, in order to protect themselves from unbearable negative emotions. A populist leader takes advantage of the group's vulnerability to achieve his or her political ends. Vulnerable communities require not just realistic economic revitalization, but social and emotional interventions. The understandings outlined here may provide guidance, particularly by promoting the development of supportive mentoring relationships and facilitating improved parenting, and educational approaches that focus on emotional development.

Keywords:

• populism
• group psychology
• vulnerable populations
• emotions
• trauma
• defense mechanisms

Notes

1 The potential role of social media and other foreign interference is also not part of this discussion.

2 It is ironic that there seems to be data to show that Woody Guthrie wrote of his contempt for his landlord, Donald Trump's father (see Kaplan, 2016).

3 “To be sure, some of Trump's white working class supporters might become disillusioned once they realize the consequences of his policies. But it's just as likely that they'll be pleased, as will Trump's larger coalition, by the restrictionist and isolationist aspects of his agenda, like his targeting of Muslim immigrants and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border” (Heer, 2017).

4 In this vein, it is valuable to consider Hofstadter (1963, cited in Lemann, 2014), who writes that intellectualism “accepts conflict as a central and enduring reality and understands human society as a form of equipoise based upon the continuing process of compromise.” But, in addition, in a democracy there is a constant tension between intellectualism and anti-intellectualism.

5 Several colleagues, with comparable cultural backgrounds, who read previous drafts described similar experiences to Vance's.

6 A recent report from the Brookings Institution revealed that “minorities, who have traditionally faced discrimination, are much happier and less frustrated than are poor and uneducated whites who live primarily in suburban and rural areas in the heartland. Rising mortality among uneducated whites is the starkest marker of this desperation and is driven by preventable deaths such as suicides and opioid poisoning. No surprise, then, that the 2016 U.S. presidential election exposed deep societal divisions across America” (Graham & Pinto, 2017).

7 It is interesting that many Trump supporters are concerned that despite running a populist campaign, his actions in his first 100 days in office are much more traditional (Baker, 2017).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leon Hoffman

Leon Hoffman, M.D., is training and supervising analyst and codirector Pacella Research Center, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute; faculty, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City; chief psychiatrist, West End Day School, New York City; author, with Timothy Rice and Tracy Prout, Regulation Focused Psychotherapy for Children with Externalizing Behaviors: A Psychodynamic Approach (2016).