: Anxiety that is not attached to a specific object or threat, leaving people in a constant state of unease.
: Desmet argues that our modern, mechanistic view of the world—treating humans and society like machines—has contributed to the psychological conditions that make us vulnerable to mass formation. Responding to Mass Formation MATTIAS DESMET & THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TOTALITARIAN...
: Desmet identifies four conditions that must exist for Mass Formation to take hold: : Anxiety that is not attached to a
: Because the "connection" felt by the masses is based on the shared narrative, any voice that questions the narrative is seen as a threat to their newfound sense of meaning and social cohesion. This leads to the "cancel culture" and dehumanization of dissenters often seen in totalitarian shifts. This leads to the "cancel culture" and dehumanization
: Building alternative communities and systems (economic, social, educational) that operate outside the mainstream narrative helps maintain psychological resilience and provides a place for those who do not subscribe to the mass formation.