Understanding the Psychology of Cults and Conspiracy Theorists

 

There is a certain common thread between conspiracy theorists and those vulnerable to the lure of cults.  People have an inborn desire to understand the world in which they live.  Fear is a driving force in much of human and animal nature and fear of the unknown is high on this list.  To make the unknown known, people will seek explanations to gain understanding.  Any who lack the innate ability to comprehend complex issues will often seek simple explanations to clarify their uncertainty.  Conspiracy theories offer those simple answers.

People want to be in control of their lives, and they will feel powerless when they feel threatened by uncertainty.  Conspiracy theories offer the certainty they crave and then, finding camaraderie among like-minded individuals, they can feel superior to others who don’t have their “secret knowledge.”

Those prone to accept conspiracies tend to be less analytical and will prioritize intuition over evidence.  They will cover their inferior intellect with overconfidence and will double-down on their theories when threatened.  Paranoia, anxiety, fear and narcissism are common within such groups.  With the advent of social media, conspiracies spread at the speed of light.  Misinformation moves much faster than truth.

Those vulnerable to conspiracies are also targets for manipulation by charismatic leaders searching for those needing belonging and purpose.  In the extreme, a charismatic leader can have total control of their followers, sometimes leading them to their ultimate destruction.  In extreme examples, we find Peoples Temple, the Manson Family, Branch Davidians, and Heaven’s Gate.

This brings us to the Cult of MAGA.  Donald Trump has developed an affective bond over a core group of followers.  They view him as successful and endowed with extraordinary abilities, traits they desire if only by association.  He offers them Manichean demonization which is a religious concept of absolutes of good and evil wherein they are good and their perceived opponents are inherently evil. 

This Manichean demonization is also used politically to frame in absolute terms where opponents are pure evil and one’s own side is purely good and righteous.  In this political realm, the vilification and dangerousness of the opposition is exaggerated to portray them as demonic monsters who have no right to exist or participate in society.  Yesterday’s witch, is today’s immigrant, non-white, non-Christian, or non-binary.

Political discontent provided a fertile field to radicalize the Republican party.  His near-miss assassination attempt allowed him to claim his God-given mandate.  His subjects subordinate themselves to authoritarian rule so they can be protected from the evil “others.”  He openly denigrates those who are different (race, color, creed, language, disability) to the delight of the newly cohesive “in-group.”

While Donald Trump’s norm-breaking chaotic behavior is an anathema to most rational individuals, it is nectar for the cult.  He plays the transgressive carnival fool to challenge authority and societal rules, where seriousness is subverted by mockery.  Trump is the ringmaster to this life spectacle amusing the MAGA devotees.  If there is one thing to be said for him, he is not boring.  For a society enamored by reality television, he is entertainment.  He even hosted his own reality television series and was heavily involved with the scripted spectacle of professional wrestling.

If we harken to a time of medieval European cities, the sanctioned levity of carnival where social and moral restrictions were abandoned, it is not unlike the atmosphere of the Trump Insurrection of January 6^th.  Within this atmosphere of chaotic behavior lies the justification of existing prejudices.  It legitimizes the abuse of marginalized communities who are regularly the target of bullies and other insecure types.

These targets can be “illegals,” radical Islam, woke, or non-binary communities.  It is then that the disruptive fool can use the resulting chaos to cover his illegal transgressions.  He can openly use his office to corruptly enrich himself and his friends.  He knows he will be forgiven by his cultists, and any prosecution will run into the stone wall of political survival fear.   The remnants of the Republican party have chosen fealty to their fool rather than risk his ire.

In a political science blog titled, “Explaining the Trump loyalty cult phenomenon” by Elizaveta Gaufman and Adrian Favero, they liken Trump to the Grand Wizard mock-king of the Ku Klux Klan during the Reconstruction.  Then, the KKK maintained white supremacy in defiance of Black emancipation.  They dressed in costumes and used twisted Biblical rationale to justify all manner of barbarism.

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“Carnival liberates carnal desire and encourages transgression. Unrestrained by everyday social, political and moral restrictions, you might choose to swear as much as you want, disguise yourself, or harass women and minorities. This would take place in a carnival square, where people could talk, touch each other, eat, copulate, and laugh. Carnival was often considered a time when “real people” could reclaim their power and crown their own king.”—The Trump Carnival: Medieval Politics on Today’s Far Right—Politics and Society; Elizabeth Gaufman, Bharath Ganash

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It remains to be seen if Congress will “grow a pair” and stop this orange fool from destroying what is left of our once-great democracy or will they procrastinate and hope for a bailout with a backlash in the midterms.  If this Congress’ track record is any indication, procrastination is the preferred modus operandi.  Can America survive three more years of chaos and uncertainty at the hands of our orange fool?  I for one would settle for making America mediocre again but the acronym wouldn’t work.