The Psychology of Totalitarianism

In 'The Psychology of Totalitarianism,' Mattias Desmet analyzes how people willingly give up their freedom and how the masses can rise to form totalitarian regimes.

He identifies 'mass formation' as a type of collective hypnosis that destroys individuals' ethical self-awareness and critical thinking.

The book is divided into three parts: the first part examines the mechanistic-materialist view of the world and its psychological effects; the second part details the process of mass formation and its relationship to totalitarianism; and the third part explores ways to transcend the current mechanistic worldview to prevent totalitarianism.

Desmet argues that the Enlightenment's commitment to a mechanistic worldview has led to anxiety and social pathologies, and he advocates for a more balanced understanding that includes an immaterial realm beyond the physical.