Not Just About the Other Guy
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More insights into the toxic combination of psychological aberration and the possession of power.
Dr. Bandy X. Lee was interviewed by Prof. Johanna Fernández, author of The Young Lords: A Radical History (UNC Press, 2020), a history of the Puerto Rican counterpart of the Black Panther Party. She is the editor of Writing on the Wall: Selected Prison Writings of Mumia?Abu-Jamal?(City Lights, 2015) and with Abu-Jamal a special issue of the journal Socialism and Democracy, titled The Roots of Mass Incarceration in the US: Locking Up Black Dissidents and Punishing the Poor(Routledge, 2014). She teaches 20th Century U.S. history and the history of social movements at Baruch College (CUNY) and hosts "A New Day" on WBAI. She interviewed Dr. Lee, forensic psychiatrist and author of?, for her "Race, Class, and Revolution" class at MayDay Space in New York. This is a two-part series.?. Where does politics begin and psychiatry end in assessing social problems? ?
As you know, we just experienced hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths, the near-loss of our democracy, and traumatization of a nation as a result of a president's mental unfitness, and so we cannot say the two areas are always separate. If the psychological dangers and unfitness were addressed earlier on, as would have been routine for any other job, we may have avoided these predictable consequences. Mental health issues do not stop at the political realm, and a high political office does not make one immune from mental problems. At the same time, just as political matters should not be labeled as psychiatric, psychiatric issues should not be labeled as political. Politicians are supposed to consult with experts in areas that exceed their ability to handle—and not pretend that it is politics as usual—just as mental health experts should not comment on areas outside their expertise. Mislabeling can lead to catastrophes, as we have seen under Donald Trump, when glaring psychological problems were interpreted as political strategy or "3-D chess." We associate Nazism or Stalinism with certain countries, while portraying Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, or Pol Pot as such exceptional "monsters" that they would never be replicated on our soil, when the psychological characteristics they display are quite common—and it was handing them power that was exceptional. If we fail to understand the personality types that relentlessly seek but cannot handle power, which transforms them into grotesque megalomaniacs who run their countries to the ground, we will forever be vulnerable to them. We need to engage those who are best poised to detect these signs early,?before?they entrench themselves in the political structure, and that would be mental health experts. Didn't Barack Obama deploy more structural violence against immigrants than all previous American presidents? Why not focus on this? Isn't talk about sociopathy a distraction from the real problems? Absolutely, we need to consider the larger context—but the two are interlinked. When present, we need to point out elements of pathology in the culture that push individuals into violence, even when they may not have initially been inclined. George W. Bush might be another example of someone who was not a dangerous personality, but he was used for dangerous purposes. When I was asked to comment on the Iraq War at the World Economic Forum, I focused not on him but on our nation as suffering from a "narcissistic personality disorder" writ large. I called out Donald Trump because he is a dangerous personality, but he was simultaneously also the personification and instrument of a dangerous culture. People have asked me to comment on Joe Biden, but I have not, since he exhibits no concerning signs of relevance to doing his job, although whether he can refrain from the pressures of our violent military-industrial complex remains to be seen. How is it helpful to discuss disorder, whether in an individual or in a society? Disorder by definition leads to destruction, no matter the stated intentions, whereas healthy, rational, and well-informed choices are always life-affirming, occasional human errors or accidents notwithstanding. Disorders can be more pernicious than criminality alone, since simple criminality at least benefits the self. It is when criminal-mindedness combines with pathology that all manner of atrocities become possible, for even the actor who is supposedly "benefiting" will eventually destroy oneself. ?
Prevention is critical, since, once pathology spreads, the ability to recognize that something is wrong is gone, too. This is where mental health professionals have an important role, for we have an independent duty to warn authorities and the public, as part of our responsibility to society, if the relevant people are not recognizing the dangers. One of the reasons why the American Psychiatric Association's silencing of mental health experts under the Trump administration was so alarming was because it stripped the public of its one defense against victimization—and this was after it looked the other way throughout Barack Obama's presidency when psychiatrists were constantly diagnosing him incorrectly with "narcissistic personality disorder" on Fox News. It also said nothing about those who??Trump—as long as the diagnosis was favorable. It only aggressively shut down conscientious mental health professionals who were not unethically diagnosing but responsibly alerting about the dangers, since we were inconvenient to a dangerous government. Recently there have been individuals who have been very destructive in social movement organizations locally. Some believe these individuals are on the NPD spectrum. How should we address these problems in social movements? There is an epidemic of narcissistic and sociopathic personalities in our culture, even more disproportionately in leadership positions. This is a ubiquitous problem that is compromising organizational goals, hurting associates, and harming society. While psychological issues are understandably a difficult topic in the social movement world, where we often believe we ought to focus on social and economic problems and not make "ad hominem?attacks," we must recognize this is a real problem. We need to be informed, recognize red flags, and set boundaries for our daily protection. Why is it so difficult to address these issues in our organizations internally? First, the most dangerous personalities disguise themselves so well that an early scholar called the condition a "." Even if you recognized them, they are intimidating, and so you end up coddling and protecting them, rather than exposing or holding them accountable,?especially?if you wish to avoid their cruelty, wrath, and vindictiveness. We need systematic provisions against them, both in government as well as in private organizations. What is the value of psychiatry, despite its politics? Politics, media companies, and corporations are making use of psychological knowledge more than ever to control people's behavior for profit. Citizens would do well to educate themselves, and mental health professionals to share their knowledge with the public, not just to serve the wealth and power that hire them. The CIA, the FBI, and the courts all make use of psychiatrist evaluations, most of the time without personal interviews, and the public should not be deprived of psychiatric assessments, especially when a nation's own president is posing a danger—which is arguably even greater than that of a foreign leader. Follow Dr. Lee at?. |
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On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 07:05 AM, awb wrote:
Politics, media companies, and corporations are making use of psychological knowledge more than ever to control people's behavior for profit.Interesting article.? "The Social Dilemna."? We don't even know we're being manipulated, but there are teams of people dedicated to the psychology of social media.?? 罢丑颈蝉—"There is an epidemic of narcissistic and sociopathic personalities in our culture, even more disproportionately in leadership positions"—has been the case for a long time. Generally, Corporate america has no heart.? Due, I think, to the political and racial trauma we have experienced over the last four years, there is a growing focus on the impact of this on our bodies and psychology.? My Grandmother's Hands was recommended to me yesterday.? Let us white people not believe that "this doesn't apply to us."? We're all in this together, as they say.? ? For you Laura Ingalls Wilder fans, this book is apparently excellent.? I grew up on those books.?? ? -- Em |
开云体育On 5/1/21 9:41 AM, WillyTex via
groups.io wrote:
On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 10:31 AM, Emily Mae wrote: Not that it will do any good because they are videophobic but this is a good academic explanation of mass psychosis and how it has been used to create regime change (video by the Academy of Ideas): |
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On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 09:41 AM, WillyTex wrote:
LOL. ?Perfect example.?We don't even know we're being manipulated, but there are teams of people dedicated to the psychology of social media.??My opinions are just based on my “gut instincts” that the people running things are incompetents who often lie and manipulate. YMMV. ? -- Em |
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On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 01:59 PM, Bhairitu wrote:
Not that it will do any good because they are videophobic but this is a good academic explanation of mass psychosis and how it has been used to create regime change (video by the Academy of Ideas):"The Academy of Ideas (formerly known by its trading name the Institute of Ideas) is a UK think-tank that forms part of a pro-corporate libertarian network." ? Hmmm....the Corporations funding this org include?CropLife International?- a 'global federation' led by BASF, Bayer, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta.?Biotech/pharmaceutical giant Novartis has also been mentioned as?a?source of funding (see below).???? This video is posing as "academic." (Do you think the monotone voice helps sell it?). ?You have been duped again, oh conspiratorial one. ?This is actually a video trying to *infect* your mind. (Noticed how they used that word?) with the idea that government = totalitarianism. (Did you take note of the number of times they repeated that word?" ?That's what this is really about. This is an organization fully lacking in transparency. ?It was started by Claire Fox before it rebranded, yet the website states that it was founded by a couple of Canadian guys. ?It's characterized as "pro-corporate libertarian right." ? Lobbywatch, ?states the following: While the Institute of Ideas (IoI) claims to be all about?opening up?public debate?and taking it beyond 'contemporary orthodoxies' that 'narrow discussion,'?in reality?its events are?carefully crafted?to create?an?appearance of free and lively debate as a vehicle for?communicating?LM/IoI's own narrow orthodoxies. ? -- Em |
开云体育On 5/1/21 6:38 PM, Emily Mae via
groups.io wrote:
On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 01:59 PM, Bhairitu wrote:It's just history, Emily. You are the stupid one and on the wrong side of history which you will pay dearly for. |
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On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 08:07 PM, Bhairitu wrote:
It's just history, Emily. You are the stupid one and on the wrong side of history which you will pay dearly for.Nope, it isn't "just history."? I didn't call you stupid; I asked whether you ever did your research.? The doors of your mind are seemingly concrete.? I believe strongly in democracy (1 person, 1 vote) and full access to voting.? Trump was the most totalitarian leader we've ever had in the history of this country.? And you post this kind of a video now?? What up?? ? ? -- Em |
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On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 08:07 PM, Bhairitu wrote:
It's just history, Emily. You are the stupid one and on the wrong side of history which you will pay dearly for.Oh, and how do you square that this video is being funded by the biggest corporations in the world?? The ones you rail against?? The idea that your mind is so compromised as to not understand what they are doing here and can only resort to calling me "stupid" is pretty sad.? ? ? -- Em |
开云体育On 5/2/21 9:59 AM, Emily Mae via
groups.io wrote:
On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 08:07 PM, Bhairitu wrote: That's nothing, you and Ann post stuff all the time from some of the biggest corporations in the world. The ones you rail against?? The idea that your mind is so compromised as to not understand what they are doing here and can only resort to calling me "stupid" is pretty sad.I'm betting you didn't even look at the video or you would have known it was a history lesson.? The video is railing against fascism and mind control.? Guess you're too into Seattle having a Khemer Rouge. ? |
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On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 10:37 AM, Bhairitu wrote:
Don't be ridiculous.???That's your shtick and you know it.???I did a quick search on FFL archives and found over 1000 posts by you specifically railing relentlessly about the evils of corporate america.? You obviously can't admit that you've been duped.??On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 08:07 PM, Bhairitu wrote: The ones you rail against?? The idea that your mind is so compromised as to not understand what they are doing here and can only resort to calling me "stupid" is pretty sad. I'm betting you didn't even look at the video or you would have known it was a history lesson.? The video is railing against fascism and mind control.? Guess you're too into Seattle having a Khemer Rouge. ?Yes, I watched the video.? That's why I did my research; it was highly suspect and my suspicions were correct.? The video is an extremely poorly presented and obvious attempt at manipulating viewers and creating fear of government is what it is.? Published in April 2021?? Please!!? Published by the very opaque org. Academy of Ideas, which hides its origins and turns out is a rebrand from the prior Institute of Ideas, founded by Claire Fox.? The Guardian investigated Claire Fox: "It found that she was linked to pro-gun American libertarian groups, was funded by unpleasant pharmaceutical corporations and had a shady past in the nastiest Trotskyist bunch who ever picketed a nurses’ pay dispute....George Monbiot castigated Fox?for being a member of a “bizarre and cultish network” that was poisoning scientific debate in Britain. He charged that she was in cahoots with her sister, Fiona, who ran a dubious PR firm that was in hock to GM companies and proselytised for pharmaceutical corporations. If his page had come in scratch ‘n’ sniff, it would have emitted a whiff of sulphur." Sorry, you've been fooled by the pharmaceutical industry.? Better luck next time.?? -- Em |
开云体育On 5/2/21 1:06 PM, Emily Mae via
groups.io wrote:
On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 10:37 AM, Bhairitu wrote: So?? Many corporations have become too big for their britches. I've also watched the Peter Principle at work in the corporate world.? I think your problem is you don't understand me nor the world at large. ??Your comments were stupid. And still are. Sounds like they learned first hand.? Too bad you didn't.I'm betting you didn't even look at the video or you would have known it was a history lesson.? The video is railing against fascism and mind control.? Guess you're too into Seattle having a Khemer Rouge. ?Yes, I watched the video.? That's why I did my research; it was highly suspect and my suspicions were correct.? The video is an extremely poorly presented and obvious attempt at manipulating viewers and creating fear of government is what it is.? Published in April 2021?? Please!!? Published by the very opaque org. Academy of Ideas, which hides its origins and turns out is a rebrand from the prior Institute of Ideas, founded by Claire Fox.? The Guardian investigated Claire Fox: Sorry, you've been fooled by the pharmaceutical industry.? Better luck next time.??Nice try grasshopper. ;-) BTW, when are you moving the North Korea.? Sounds like just the place for you. For those who don't like to watch videos, the transcript.? Judge for yourself. The first quote nails Emily: ??? “The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim.” ??? Gustav Le Bon, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind |
awb
Emily Mae
Bhairitu