Mentions
- Post
"Those are extreme situations, with dire consequences for nonconformity, but even in a democracy, disengagement from a leader cult such as Trump’s is a slow process. That’s because the behavior of many cult members is dictated by aversion to loss and intolerance of the cognitive dissonance that comes when the cult belief system is confronted with reality.
The more an individual has invested in the cult world, the more they are reluctant to admit to others, and to themselves, that they have misplaced their trust and love. Just as cultivation and conversion leverage strong positive emotions (belonging, safety), so does disengagement evoke strong negative emotions (shame, humiliation) that many wish to avoid."
- Curated in Donald Trump 2024
- Post
"It takes years to cultivate a personality cult, especially when you are forced to operate in a democracy, and it can take a long time for one to recede. Trump started his leader cult in 2015, building on established media relationships and associations of his billionaire persona with dominance and glamour. His strongman profile and propaganda points have been around for almost a decade.
History shows that shifts in perception that can lessen leaders’ holds over their followers usually happen over time. Ian Kershaw describes the end of a personality cult as a "slow deflation." Kershaw wrote about Adolf Hitler, whose leader cult was enforced by a one-party dictatorship. It took being bombed by the Allies for people to realize that the infallible defender of the nation they had worshipped was a propaganda creation."
- Post
"As a marketer, Trump would understand the Pennsylvania result as evidence there is something wrong with his product, with consumers saying they want something else. As an authoritarian, he will feel ever more vengeful and respond by attempting to consolidate his control over the party, including at the local and state levels.
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One takeaway is not to expect a collapse of Trump’s cult soon. Even if Trump is confined due to being in contempt, he has long used the specter of his imprisonment to emotionally manipulate this followers, who vow they would support him if he ends up in prison."