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Donald Trump as Leader: Psychoanalytic Perspectives
Author(s) -
Rudden Marie,
Brandt Stephanie
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of applied psychoanalytic studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.314
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1556-9187
pISSN - 1742-3341
DOI - 10.1002/aps.1560
Subject(s) - appeal , psychoanalytic theory , faith , fantasy , loyalty , psychology , psychoanalysis , social psychology , group (periodic table) , political science , epistemology , sociology , law , philosophy , chemistry , art , literature , organic chemistry
Psychoanalysts who study the internal processes of group formation and functioning have a good deal to offer in understanding Donald Trump's powerful appeal to a segment of American voters. In this paper, we examine how this politician has ignited the fierce loyalty of a dedicated group of followers. We further use group analytic concepts to consider the ways in which his followers in turn exert their influence on Trump himself. Finally, referring to the literature on group leadership, we consider the inevitable impact of a leader whose communications often stray from logic and demonstrable fact and which seem to intentionally promote group regression and fantasy. This analysis pertains to the effect he has on those staunch supporters who say there is little he could do to shake their faith in him.