Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych Profile picture
Jul 19, 2021 33 tweets 8 min read Read on X
Interesting analysis of “mobbing phenomenon”, with parallels drawn to American politics.

It brings to mind the dangerous interplay between "authoritarian followers” and “vertically power-structured” institutions that exist within a “horizontally power-structured” democracy...1/
According to Altemeyer’s research, 20-30% of a population will have an authoritarian personality.

Authoritarian personalities are drawn to “vertical power structures”….which are a strict hierarchical structure where power emanates from the top-down. 2/ theauthoritarians.org
The article above analyzes a corporate environment. I've used the term "corporate creatures" to describe those who thrive in and exploit the corporate structure and the cut-throat ecosystem.

Corporate creatures are often authoritarian personalities/followers who...3/
...are drawn to the top-down vertical power structure of "authority", b/c they not only gravitate to the powerful leader, but they want to ascend the power structure to have power/control over others.

Authoritarian followers are not only drawn to authority, they may crave it. 4/
Unsurprisingly, Narcissists/Sociopaths are drawn to the vertical power structure of corporate America, and are disproportionately represented within the ranks of CEOs...as noted here when analyzing society’s failure to rein in narcissists/sociopaths. 5/
Due to their vertical power structure, certain institutions may be comprised of a considerably higher percentage of authoritarian followers than the 20-30% that generally exists across society. 6/
In a democracy, the power “theoretically” resides in the people....which creates a bottom-up, "horizontal power structure".

There is an obvious tension that exists when a horizontally power-structured democracy is supported by vertically power-structured institutions… 7/
…that are disproportionately represented by authoritarian followers.

This vertical/horizontal power structure tension creates an obvious need for “separation” or insulation.

Hence, the need for the separation of church and state….8/
….and, perhaps even more importantly, the need for civilian-led military.

However, when an authoritarian leader takes power and abuses his power, the country is reliant upon the character/integrity/patriotism and constitutional adherence of leaders such as General Milley…..10/
This is why Trump and the Right Wing “Media Authoritarians” have turned on General Milley, and are attempting to create division within the disproportionately-represented authoritarian follower ranks….11/
Essentially, a horizontal power structure has been hijacked by authoritarian personalities, who are attempting to vertical-ize democracy, and create a diversion of verticality from current military leadership to the right-wing authoritarian movement. 12/
This was on display on January 6th: 13/
As I read, the article about "mobbing phenomenon" embedded in the initial tweet, I thought about Jeremy Richman, the Sandy Hook father/neuroscientist who committed suicide after becoming exhausted by the Alex Jones-led "mobbing" ("crisis actors", etc).
Other threads on authoritarianism and/or authoritarian followers: 15/
Article form of the above thread (no paywall): 26/ patreon.com/posts/54033856

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More from @Nick_Carmody

May 3
Some observations about civil unrest, Jan 6th, the college campus protests, and the election.

Let's unpack...

MAGA was furious that Ukraine flags were waved in the halls of congress after a constitutionally enacted bill was passed to fund/fight for democracy.

However...

1/
...these very same people glorify Jan 6th "hostages"...

...many of whom waved "other" flags while violently overrunning the halls of congress to undemocratically/unconstitutionally subvert an election in order to keep a lying, traitorous, sociopathic narcissist in power.

2/
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Unfortunately, human beings experience something called recency bias:

Recency bias is a cognitive bias that favors recent events over historic ones; a memory bias. Recency bias gives "greater importance to the most recent event".

3/ Image
Read 15 tweets
Apr 11
Article about device addiction by @brianklaas, which references @JonHaidt's book "the Anxious Generation" analyzing the effect smart phones have on kids.

I work with kids who struggle with electronic device dependency/addiction.

Let's unpack...

1/

forkingpaths.co/p/the-moronic-…
In my sessions kids & parents, we focus on device dependency/addiction...

...the neuropsychology of addiction (dopamine)...

...analogizing it to other addictions for perspective...

....and distinguishing it from other addictions to show how difficult it is to manage....

2/
.....b/c unlike other addictions, we can't completely abstain from electronics in modern society.

So it's like telling an alcoholic they not only CAN have several drinks each day...

...but they MUST have several drinks each day...

...and to just not "overdo it".

3/
Read 11 tweets
Apr 3
Good article by @brianklaas:

I attached relevant threads about Qanon, the neuropsychology of conspiracy theory susceptibility, and how dopamine/addiction and celebrity gossip/entertainment factors in, etc.

1/

forkingpaths.co/p/the-science-…
Read 4 tweets
Mar 9
It's difficult to remember all of the things that should repulse otherwise decent people who continue to support a severely disordered man who they would otherwise condemn in any other context.

Relevant threads are attached below:

1/
Read 6 tweets
Jan 12
Thread of threads analyzing the psychology of why tens of millions of people support/follow/defend someone as severely disordered as Trump:

First, a thread analyzing how victimhood erodes self-efficacy, and creates susceptibility to authoritarianism:
1/

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Thread of threads analyzing the psychology of why tens of millions of people support/follow/defend someone as severely disordered as Trump.

A thread analyzing the "non-falsifiability" of the Trump myth:

2/


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Thread of threads analyzing the psychology of why tens of millions of people support/follow/defend someone as severely disordered as Trump.

A thread analyzing the effect that disordered leaders have on society:

3/


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Read 22 tweets
Dec 1, 2023
Perhaps the most important factor in analyzing political behavior:

People have an innate need to believe they are the "good guys".

Let’s unpack….

1/
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At the core of “Us-versus-Them” narratives is the in-group’s innate belief that they are the "good guys"...

.....and that the "out group", or the “them” are the "bad guys".

2/
Another important point is the role that victimhood plays in us-versus-them, “good guy” narratives.

Victimhood both implicitly/explicitly frames conflict in terms of good guys and bad guys:

The victims are always the "good guys"...

...and perpetrators are always bad guys.

3/
Read 28 tweets

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