Overcoming political derangement: It starts with me (and you)
A MENtal Strength series article—click here for article home page.
“Totalitarianism is a cultural neurotic symptom of the need for community,” wrote Rollo May in his 1950 book The Meaning of Anxiety. This insight rings true today, as we hear otherwise normal people expressing disappointment that former President Donald Trump wasn’t assassinated.
"Trump derangement" has broader implications. This term, often used to describe extreme reactions to Donald Trump, is a symptom of a larger issue: people exhibiting deranged behavior, particularly on social media, regarding their political views about those who disagree with them.
The Dual Meanings of “Politics”
The division between right and left has become increasingly ugly, with "Trump derangement" echoing assertions from a couple decades ago that Obama was trying to ruin the country. Both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of this deranged expression of political views, which extends far beyond Trump.
Political derangement occurs when the simpler, emotional side of politics overwhelms rational discourse. The term "politics" itself has dual meanings that contribute to this phenomenon. On one hand, politics involves the complex processes around policy development, implementation, and the balance between safety and freedom. On the other hand, politics refers to the rhetoric used to drive voting and activism. This rhetoric is often designed more to motivate than to educate, aiming to inflame emotions rather than inform. When emotionally charged rhetoric overshadows rational policy discussions, it contributes to more extreme and irrational beliefs and behavior.
Overcoming Vilification and Delusions
The ability to respect different viewpoints is crucial in avoiding political derangement. However, wishing for Trump's assassination garners more attention than casually believing the opposing political spectrum is stupid or evil. Vilifying an entire group of fellow citizens requires disordered thinking and delusions. These delusions might not be as diagnosable as believing a dog is telling you to commit murder, but they are delusions nonetheless.
Examples include:
Believing liberals or conservatives wanting different policies means they are necessarily stupid.
Believing liberals or conservatives wanting different policies means they wish ill will toward a portion of the population.
I’m concerned that a significant number of therapists fall into this trap. A significant portion of therapists harbor totalitarian sentiments—not in the sense of conspiring to create a totalitarian state, but as a reflection of their intense feelings about social justice eclipsing their ability to think critically. One example of this: I recently polled a therapist Facebook group with more than 20k members about whether Critical Race Theory should be accepted as truth without question, or if people should learn about it and decide for themselves. 55 voted that people should learn about it and decide for themselves. 75 therapists responded that it should be taught as a truth not to be questioned.
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The derangement in this is the totalitarianism, however minor, that believes that people cannot be trusted to take responsibility for how they filter this information. This goes entirely against a foundation of therapy—the belief in self-determination when it comes to one’s own mind, thoughts, beliefs and values.
Personal Experiences and Common Values
To combat this derangement, we need to get to know people as individuals. I grew up a hippie and always voted Democrat, but joining the military and starting my mental health career as a social worker for veterans helped me see the good intentions and often well-reasoned beliefs of conservatives. I witnessed conservative philosophies working well in various contexts. For instance, as a father of girls, I believe the best “safe space” for women in Williamson County (Texas) is a business with what liberals would consider a quite conservative or libertarian vibe. My impression is that women and girls feel safe there, and it contradicts the stereotype that conservatives want to oppress women by going out of its way to accommodate and empower them.
Recognizing our common values is essential. Everyone desires safety and freedom for themselves and their loved ones, regardless of political affiliation. Our opposition might have different values on lower levels, but we share the same values on higher levels.
Addressing Self-Hate and Cultivating Empathy
Any educated mental health professional will agree: your hate for what you see in the world is a projection of your own self-hatred. If you hate others, it stems from internal, unconscious self-hate. Buddha, Freud, Jung, Louise Hay, Virginia Woolf, and Anais Nin all embraced this idea. You can disagree with someone, but the hate with which you disagree is about you and has been something for you to work on long before your current argument.
Steps to Address Self-Hate and Cultivate Empathy
Overcoming the contempt we feel for those who disagree with us requires self-awareness, humility and healing. We need to acknowledge our feelings and what triggers them.
We need to be the change we want to see, reflecting on how we might be contributing to the divisiveness. We need to be compassionate with ourselves when we feel vulnerable, and extend that compassion toward those who might not treat us gracefully when they are feeling vulnerable.
And get up close and personal with those you find yourself generalizing about. Listen to understand their perspectives, and see how their choices make sense to them.
For the sake of our mental health, happier communities, and better partnerships, we must strive to understand and empathize with those we disagree with. Let's move beyond any sort of political or group derangement and focus on what actually creates inclusion.
Michael Giles LCSW is a psychotherapist who specializes in helping men overcoming anxiety, heal from trauma, and repair their relationships.
Click here to schedule a consultation.
Click here to read about his book, Relationship Repair for Men: Counterintuitive behaviors that restore love to struggling relationships.
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