This is really an excellent, illuminating article, Jim, as usual!
It reminded me of how much we need to belong in order to feel good about ourselves. Trump followers definitely gravitated to him because he seemed confident, well-defined, and unassailably in charge...qualities that most people admire and long to possess.
The tragic irony, of course, is that under that phony, Superman cape of defensive grandiosity, he's extremely insecure, in constant need of attention and approbation, and doesn't have the capacity to care about them worth a damn. But the shared delusion that he's idealizable and that his followers are loved and cared for, creates a powerful magnetic bond, keeping both leader and followers psychologically "together."
Any challenge to that psychologically-supportive bond is bound to be met with anger and contempt. I was told today at a pro-democracy demonstration that "You must have Trump Derangement Syndrome," to which I simply replied, "You have a right to your opinion."
Aside from Steve Hassan's work with ex-cult followers there's a group called, Leaving MAGA. I'll find out more about it if you're not already familiar. Looking forward to talking about his on Sunday as well as your remarkable consultation with Dr. AI about Trump's psychological condition and where it's likely to lead if not contained in some way.
Good analysis and suggestions. Were the suggestions from AI? :)
Yes, MAGA and other political/religious associations are about identity - superficial aspects of identify. (Deep or reflective thinking is not exactly an American trait that is wildly popular.)
People need to be very careful about who they give their attention to when they choose to follow anyone: friends who can lead them down a dark path or a light one; school counselor, sports coach, social media influencer, FOX "News", CBS, CNN, print/digital media or religious or political leader. (We don't teach enough useful societal skills in US schools.)
Too many people are too trusting and give away their power to leaders who just want to use them for their own purposes - Trump is an example. He just needed their votes. When people listen and follow Nazis, the outcome is more fascism. People need to ask "Is this person worthy of being followed? Are they lying? What's in it for them? Money? Fame? What are they trying to get from me? Agreement? Involvement? What is the likely outcome if I follow this person?"
It's not just the poorly educated or the less intellectually endowed who fall for cults. Remember NXIVM?
Good book on cult of Trump and suggestions for how to talk to people in cults and provide help is: "The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control" by Steven Hassan. Hassan was a Moonie decades ago. He has academic credentials and has been helping people get out of cults since 1976.
We've all been betrayed by someone. As a result, we should be better at finding out if someone is untrustworthy before walking down that same road again. We all make mistakes, but our intelligence/learned wisdom can be used as guide to avoid making the same mistake again. We're all human and prone to error. We do have that in common with all other humans.
This period of time is the finding out stage for MAGA...hopefully. In other words, they have to accept responsibility for their choices in leaders. It's not enough to choose toxic, masculine "Daddy" Trump over "Mommy" Harris. They need to choose the best leader regardless of superficial characteristics, entertainment value of candidate, sex, race, religion. And they need to move beyond voting based on what's in it for me to what's best for society.
This is a very important and foundational piece regarding the current cult behavior.
A couple of days ago I watched a video about a man whose wife was taken away by ice. He voted for Trump had Trump flags on his lawn and still endorses MAGA
I could not understand him. I have thought often in the intervening days what is going on in his mind. This article explains it.
1. One very pervasive issue, with addicts, is always needing or inventing an excuse. No matter what the addiction is. I 'm personally aware of what I'm stating. This is why facts don't matter. The identity is too hard to live with alone so by creating a fusion with a clear negative still becomes or is internalized as a positive that is easier and to which using or belonging means hiding from that question...Who am I?
2. Pushing back, you couldn't be more right, doesn't work. Offering therapy I'd disagree with as that says "intervention" and YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
The safe place to say their beliefs and why and begin to softly get them to try the factual, with out being factual in a "YOU'RE DUMB AND I'M NOT" way but as you say YOU WERE LOYAL or YOU WERE PATRIOTIC. They usually can't be factual and get flustered and that is what gets them digging in deeper. But if you don't fluster them they begin to open up. I have found that out a lot in this very context.
3. Being the group, the cult, the leader, or the "I AM" being seen being done, as in daily prayer/sermon sessions, on the Hill, doesn't make matters easier, as so many, even if not CN use the Bible as the shield in which to defend/rationalize just about anything. The Bible has plenty on GOD choosing a leader so that means Obama, right? The circle of madness. There is plenty to support government supporting the needy, aid, but the pretzel twisting, for the purpose of ideology, is where government and the Bible don't mix as it is subjective and, to my knowledge, NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS MET "GOD", literally.
That is why the shield of the Bible is so easy to manipulate people. The faith isn't in knowing or being a theologian but believing it is good because someone said GOD said it or Jesus said it and most CN don't get to the Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount.
So many people don't understand EASTER and the cross over from a punishing, brutal God to a forgiving inclusive Jesus....
4. I still have an issue with anyone seeing Trump as an answer. That's not Who Am I, rather, What Did I Miss?
Great piece. Thanks so much, Jim!
Oh, and Q, as one reason C. Thomas should not be deciding ONE case involving TRUMP, et al.
“You weren’t stupid. You were loyal. And now you’re brave enough to walk away.” is an excellent opening for conversation. Another is: YOU WERE LIED TO. The propaganda in this country is thick and has been for decades now. This was deliberate, of course. In my experience, so many people simply want to be angry with MAGA, not cut them any slack at all, and assume they are Nazis who want to destroy America. Actually, lots of them are simply nice, but gullible folks who pay too much attention down at the Baptist church and watch crap media The news media deserves so much blame, some for being corporate ninnies with noodles for spines and others who are deliberate propaganda peddlers like Fox. Truth tellers like Jim are rare, so I thank you.
Thanks Jim, great as always and this concept makes so much sense.
Excellent Jim. Here’s the to do bullet points.
You weren’t stupid. You were loyal. And now you’re brave enough to walk away.
Online forums, recovery groups, podcasts, and local meetups for those leaving MAGA/QAnon.
Faith-based spaces that reclaim spiritual language from nationalist abuse.
Encourage reflection on who they were before the fusion.
Ask empowering questions:
“What do you believe in, without the movement?”
“What matters to you, not to the group?”
Spotlight hypocrisies: how Trump betrayed veterans, Christians, or workers.
Use values-based appeals:
“Does cruelty to migrants really reflect Christ’s teachings?”
If the system is rigged, why are the elites still getting richer?”
Teach media literacy and disinformation awareness.
Encourage people to ask questions of their own side.
Reward nuance and complexity, not binary thinking.
My thought- include teens in deradicalization, those being groomed as we speak
Excellent article, identity fusion and the whole MAGA cult thing is finally making some sense to me, thank you!
This is really an excellent, illuminating article, Jim, as usual!
It reminded me of how much we need to belong in order to feel good about ourselves. Trump followers definitely gravitated to him because he seemed confident, well-defined, and unassailably in charge...qualities that most people admire and long to possess.
The tragic irony, of course, is that under that phony, Superman cape of defensive grandiosity, he's extremely insecure, in constant need of attention and approbation, and doesn't have the capacity to care about them worth a damn. But the shared delusion that he's idealizable and that his followers are loved and cared for, creates a powerful magnetic bond, keeping both leader and followers psychologically "together."
Any challenge to that psychologically-supportive bond is bound to be met with anger and contempt. I was told today at a pro-democracy demonstration that "You must have Trump Derangement Syndrome," to which I simply replied, "You have a right to your opinion."
Aside from Steve Hassan's work with ex-cult followers there's a group called, Leaving MAGA. I'll find out more about it if you're not already familiar. Looking forward to talking about his on Sunday as well as your remarkable consultation with Dr. AI about Trump's psychological condition and where it's likely to lead if not contained in some way.
Good analysis and suggestions. Were the suggestions from AI? :)
Yes, MAGA and other political/religious associations are about identity - superficial aspects of identify. (Deep or reflective thinking is not exactly an American trait that is wildly popular.)
People need to be very careful about who they give their attention to when they choose to follow anyone: friends who can lead them down a dark path or a light one; school counselor, sports coach, social media influencer, FOX "News", CBS, CNN, print/digital media or religious or political leader. (We don't teach enough useful societal skills in US schools.)
Too many people are too trusting and give away their power to leaders who just want to use them for their own purposes - Trump is an example. He just needed their votes. When people listen and follow Nazis, the outcome is more fascism. People need to ask "Is this person worthy of being followed? Are they lying? What's in it for them? Money? Fame? What are they trying to get from me? Agreement? Involvement? What is the likely outcome if I follow this person?"
It's not just the poorly educated or the less intellectually endowed who fall for cults. Remember NXIVM?
Good book on cult of Trump and suggestions for how to talk to people in cults and provide help is: "The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control" by Steven Hassan. Hassan was a Moonie decades ago. He has academic credentials and has been helping people get out of cults since 1976.
We've all been betrayed by someone. As a result, we should be better at finding out if someone is untrustworthy before walking down that same road again. We all make mistakes, but our intelligence/learned wisdom can be used as guide to avoid making the same mistake again. We're all human and prone to error. We do have that in common with all other humans.
This period of time is the finding out stage for MAGA...hopefully. In other words, they have to accept responsibility for their choices in leaders. It's not enough to choose toxic, masculine "Daddy" Trump over "Mommy" Harris. They need to choose the best leader regardless of superficial characteristics, entertainment value of candidate, sex, race, religion. And they need to move beyond voting based on what's in it for me to what's best for society.
This is a very important and foundational piece regarding the current cult behavior.
A couple of days ago I watched a video about a man whose wife was taken away by ice. He voted for Trump had Trump flags on his lawn and still endorses MAGA
I could not understand him. I have thought often in the intervening days what is going on in his mind. This article explains it.
Thank you, Jim. This piece that you wrote is definitely worth saving and reading over again.
Couple quick takes.
1. One very pervasive issue, with addicts, is always needing or inventing an excuse. No matter what the addiction is. I 'm personally aware of what I'm stating. This is why facts don't matter. The identity is too hard to live with alone so by creating a fusion with a clear negative still becomes or is internalized as a positive that is easier and to which using or belonging means hiding from that question...Who am I?
2. Pushing back, you couldn't be more right, doesn't work. Offering therapy I'd disagree with as that says "intervention" and YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
The safe place to say their beliefs and why and begin to softly get them to try the factual, with out being factual in a "YOU'RE DUMB AND I'M NOT" way but as you say YOU WERE LOYAL or YOU WERE PATRIOTIC. They usually can't be factual and get flustered and that is what gets them digging in deeper. But if you don't fluster them they begin to open up. I have found that out a lot in this very context.
3. Being the group, the cult, the leader, or the "I AM" being seen being done, as in daily prayer/sermon sessions, on the Hill, doesn't make matters easier, as so many, even if not CN use the Bible as the shield in which to defend/rationalize just about anything. The Bible has plenty on GOD choosing a leader so that means Obama, right? The circle of madness. There is plenty to support government supporting the needy, aid, but the pretzel twisting, for the purpose of ideology, is where government and the Bible don't mix as it is subjective and, to my knowledge, NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS MET "GOD", literally.
That is why the shield of the Bible is so easy to manipulate people. The faith isn't in knowing or being a theologian but believing it is good because someone said GOD said it or Jesus said it and most CN don't get to the Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount.
So many people don't understand EASTER and the cross over from a punishing, brutal God to a forgiving inclusive Jesus....
4. I still have an issue with anyone seeing Trump as an answer. That's not Who Am I, rather, What Did I Miss?
Great piece. Thanks so much, Jim!
Oh, and Q, as one reason C. Thomas should not be deciding ONE case involving TRUMP, et al.
Good points thank you. We need all help we can get when & if we ever see or hear from our (MAGA) daughter again 😪
A recovery and community model for MAGA individuals, makes sense, thanks
Breathtaking clarity. Great essay!
“You weren’t stupid. You were loyal. And now you’re brave enough to walk away.” is an excellent opening for conversation. Another is: YOU WERE LIED TO. The propaganda in this country is thick and has been for decades now. This was deliberate, of course. In my experience, so many people simply want to be angry with MAGA, not cut them any slack at all, and assume they are Nazis who want to destroy America. Actually, lots of them are simply nice, but gullible folks who pay too much attention down at the Baptist church and watch crap media The news media deserves so much blame, some for being corporate ninnies with noodles for spines and others who are deliberate propaganda peddlers like Fox. Truth tellers like Jim are rare, so I thank you.
Thanks Jim. As always…