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The Psychology of Totalitarianism

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The Psychology of Totalitarianism

By: Mattias Desmet
Narrated by: Dan Crue
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We bear witness to loneliness, free-floating anxiety, and fear giving way to censorship, loss of privacy, and surrendered freedoms. It is all spurred by a singular, focused crisis narrative that forbids dissident views and relies on destructive groupthink.

Totalitarianism 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.

In The Psychology of Totalitarianism, 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.

©2022 Mattias Desmet (P)2022 Dreamscape Media, LLC Political Science Politics & Government Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Thought-Provoking Mental Health
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If you noticed cult like behaviours during "the pandemic", this book will help you understand what has taken place and what you can do about it!
A beautifully structured work that takes you on a tour of the consequences of the contemporary manifestations of our materialistic lens of perception.
Well written. Brilliantly translated. Nicely read.
This deserves to become a best seller for all the best reasons... Illuminating. Emancipating. Inspiring. Uplifting. An invitation to explore a more nutritious grand narrative.

A Rossetta stone for the decryption of reality.

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awesome listen will be buying book next to further grasp this fascinating way people act in crowds.

Nailed it.

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This book is hard work at times but worth persevering with. The author is a brilliant & well read man & his book is filled with interesting quotes but his conclusions are hard to understand. Despite his emphasis on psychology, humanity & mysticism his conclusions are arrived at in a seemingly clinical & logical way. A implies B implies C, see chapter 5 etc. A bit disappointing really.A rag tag bag of the obvious mixed up with intangible psychological theories. Would have preferred to have heard more analysis & reporting on previous totalitarian regimes. Whats wrong with the "Race, Class & Power" theory of mankind? Its certainly not what you will get here.

Hmm

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Absolutely brilliantly written, insightful, intelligent, uplifting and wise. This is definitely one of my favourite books and I am now off to re listen again. Only criticism is I would have loved Mattias to have read the book himself, although the narrater does a good job.

A must read for EVERYONE!

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I’m not a fan of rules. I’m a believer in managing the self to my own ethical standards. I am often both amused and bemused by the rules of modern society. After listening to this book I feel inspired to be myself more. For me it important to be able to recognise all the diverse deceptions and traits of totalitarianism so that I can avoid them. This book helps so much. A rich vein of observational information that can boost a person’s understanding that life is what you make it based on the moments you choose to engage with. Utterly brilliant.

The eclectic perception that everyone needs

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