{"id":130,"date":"2025-12-03T12:31:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T18:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/website_0c7237c9\/?page_id=130"},"modified":"2026-01-19T13:10:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T19:10:18","slug":"trumps-influence-on-his-followers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/trumps-influence-on-his-followers\/","title":{"rendered":"TRUMP&#8217;S INFLUENCE ON AMERICA&#8217;S MENTAL HEALTH"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>POOR MENTAL HEALTH IS CONTAGIOUS<\/strong><br \/>\nPresident Trump&#8217;s mental health, characterized by some experts as involving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-paranoia-kfRhuZXmTE2qP2SnwK_m3g#0\">paranoia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-narcissism-nlE51igyQ1CEVeAi0YP8DQ#0\">narcissism<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-impulsivity-nDunubBSTIuLF5oVIdzj_g#0\">impulsivity.<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/some-experts-have-speculated-t-x0m3jl0sTsuImmBzRz8qRw#0\">In the era of ICE, some experts have speculated<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-sadism-U3OqBDu2Ro.qnCJwsGF4oQ#0\">sadism<\/a> could be included in Trump&#8217;s character traits profile. These traits all affect Americans&#8217; mental health through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-emotional-contagion-w7uR.o.aRqiU.dzd8jPNyA#0\">emotional contagion<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-emotional-contagion-w7uR.o.aRqiU.dzd8jPNyA#1\">rhetorical modeling<\/a>, and policy decisions that amplify societal stress and division.\u200b<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Trump&#8217;s public displays of anger, denialism, and &#8220;us vs. them&#8221; rhetoric trigger emotional mimicry in supporters via mirror neuron activation and shared identity. This response fosters collective paranoia or &#8220;Folie \u00e0 deux&#8221; (shared psychosis) that spreads cognitive distortions like conspiracy beliefs.\u200b<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Opponents experience secondary trauma from constant exposure to bad news, leading to elevated anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance, with studies linking his presidency to spikes in national mental health crises akin to disaster responses.\u200b<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Repetitive messaging of conspiracies that pose threats to economic security and victimhood are amplified by frequent visit to social media echo chambers. This effect exploits the psychological vulnerabilities of followers, reduces their empathy and boosts tendencies to be physically aggressive and fuels their sense of hopelessness.\u200b\u00a0This creates a feedback loop where followers internalize and replicate behaviors, while widespread coverage normalizes instability, correlating with increased sleep disorders, substance use, and suicidal ideation across the population.\u200b<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Decisions like cutting mental health funding, reducing SNAP benefits, threats to reduce housing assistance and other kinds of financial benefits available to low-income people exacerbate access barriers during times of heightened need and worsening prospects for financial security for people already stressed by economic or social policies.\u200b<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Perceived leadership instability in government erodes trust in leaders and institutions, heightens collective anxiety and polarizes both the haves and have nots who compete for limited resources.<\/li>\n<li>Emotionally and financially fragile people who suffer from reduced government services lose hope and become depressed for lack of strategies to improve their situation.<\/li>\n<li>Constant money problems and confusing government red tape can make people give up trying, because after failing over and over, they think nothing will ever work\u2014even if some choices are still there.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Over time, this shows up as feeling tired all the time, pulling away from others, struggling to focus on future goals, and having a hard time deciding what to do, which makes it even tougher to escape poverty or tough times without real help from the system.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nThe concept of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-shared-psychosis-or-fo-l431joq.SYujFklXwb_4cQ#0\">&#8220;shared psychosis&#8221; or &#8220;folie \u00e0 millions&#8221;<\/a> has been used to describe how Trump&#8217;s behavior and delusional beliefs spread to his followers, reinforcing their collective detachment from reality and blind support for him no matter how his words and actions diverge from America&#8217;s social and political norms or their own best interests.\u00a0 With respect to Donald Trump and his MAGA followers, experts describe this as a phenomenon where Trump&#8217;s highly symptomatic behavior, including grandiosity, paranoia, and delusional tendencies contagiously influence his loyal base, heightening their emotional investment, inducing shared delusions, paranoia, and even violent tendencies.\u00a0Key examples of how shared psychosis applies to Trump and Maga followers include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Trump projects grandiose omnipotence and presents himself as a messianic figure, which creates a &#8220;narcissistic symbiosis&#8221; that makes followers emotionally dependent and magnetically attracted to him.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Followers, often experiencing societal stress or personal developmental psychological wounds, psychologically align with Trump&#8217;s projected image, amplifying their own weaknesses, grievances and fears into collective delusions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">This dynamic results in a mass spread of conspiracy beliefs, rejection of institutional facts, and emotional resistance to contradictory evidence. The psychological defenses of followers prevent them from seeing the truth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The psychological and emotional bonds formed in rallies and social networks reinforce this shared identity and symptom spread, likened to a &#8220;madness of millions&#8221; or mass hysteria.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Such shared psychosis in the MAGA movement has been linked to behaviors like the January 6 Capitol attack, where followers acted on induced delusions and paranoia stemming from Trump&#8217;s rhetoric.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nThis framework explains the strong loyalty and defensive reactions of Trump supporters against factual corrections or criticism. Their identity is tightly interwoven with the shared delusions fostered by Trump\u2019s rhetoric and behavior through a psychological phenomenon called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-identity-fusion-vDYsiwRsTYWvDsWa4TGi6g#0\">identity fusion<\/a>. The spread of symptoms from Trump to his followers exemplifies classic shared psychosis at a national and political scale, where highly symptomatic traits in a leader are transmitted through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-emotional-contagion-w7uR.o.aRqiU.dzd8jPNyA#0\">emotional contagion<\/a> to millions of followers.\u200b In many ways these influences are like the relationships of a cult to its leader:<\/p>\n<div class=\"scrollable-container flex flex-1 basis-0 overflow-auto [scrollbar-gutter:stable] scrollbar-subtle mt-headerHeight\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto size-full max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"erp-sidecar:h-fit erp-sidecar:pb-0 mx-auto h-full\">\n<div class=\"relative border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-base\">\n<div class=\"erp-sidecar:min-h-[var(--sidecar-content-height)] erp-mobile-sidecar:min-h-[var(--mobile-sidecar-content-height)] min-h-[var(--page-content-height)]\">\n<div class=\"pt-[var(--thread-visual-spacing)] md:pt-lg pb-[var(--thread-visual-spacing)] px-[var(--thread-visual-spacing)] border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-transparent\">\n<div class=\"isolate mx-auto max-w-threadContentWidth\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto max-w-threadContentWidth\">\n<div class=\"relative\">\n<div class=\"gap-y-md mt-md flex flex-col\">\n<div class=\"gap-y-lg flex flex-col first:mt-0\">\n<div class=\"border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-transparent\">\n<div class=\"gap-y-md flex flex-col\">\n<div class=\"relative font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\">\n<div class=\"min-w-0 break-words [word-break:break-word]\">\n<div id=\"markdown-content-1\" class=\"gap-y-md after:clear-both after:block after:content-['']\" dir=\"auto\">\n<div class=\"relative\">\n<div class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] prose-strong:font-medium [&amp;_&gt;*:first-child]:mt-0\">\n<ul>\n<li id=\"leader-worship\" class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Leader Worship:<\/strong>\u00a0Trump is viewed as infallible, honest, and the primary truth source, surpassing family, media, or religious leaders in trust among supporters. This creates a personality cult where loyalty is paramount, with attacks on rivals that reinforce absolute allegiance. Followers see him as a messianic or providential figure, embodying their desires and promising retribution against enemies.\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li id=\"us-vs-them-division\" class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Us-vs-Them Division:\u00a0<\/strong>The movement fosters paranoia by dividing the world into loyal insiders on a sacred mission versus demonized outsiders (e.g. progressive politicians, intellectual elites, media, immigrants, etc.) Repetitive negative references to these outsiders amplifies grievances into shared delusions. Rallies generate &#8220;collective effervescence,&#8221; binding participants emotionally and turning anxiety into aggression, much like cult rituals that isolate and energize the group.\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li id=\"reality-rejection\" class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Reality Rejection: <\/strong>Followers dismiss facts (e.g., 2020 election results despite court rulings) via &#8220;information control,&#8221; reframing contradictions as persecution and accepting Trump&#8217;s shifting narratives without question, a core cult tactic.\u200b Outsider&#8217;s criticism and fact-checking triggers defensiveness, as contradictions reinforce persecution narratives rather than prompting doubt. Supporters subordinate to Trump&#8217;s rule-breaking as charismatic strength, excusing flaws via &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-vessel-theology-in-the-cPVTuKKxSNmcIFN7KCmGOw#0\">vessel theology<\/a>&#8221; where he is divinely chosen despite moral issues. This self-reinforcing emotional consensus resists rational debate, blending politics with myth.\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Apocalyptic Narratives and Rituals: <\/strong><\/span>The movement promotes existential battles with Trump as &#8220;retribution&#8221; savior, reinforced by rallies with chants (&#8220;Lock her up!&#8221;), symbols (MAGA hats), and emotional highs that bind the group and suppress critical thought.\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Suppression of Dissent: <\/strong>Critics face public shaming or expulsion, while flaws in the leader are excused (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-vessel-theology-in-the-cPVTuKKxSNmcIFN7KCmGOw#0\">&#8220;vessel theology&#8221;<\/a>), punishing leaving as the ultimate sin and prioritizing emotional arousal over self-regulation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nIn summary, shared psychosis in the Trump-MAGA context is about the contagion of psychological symptoms, existential fears and delusional thinking from Trump to his supporters. These phenomena created an emotionally bonded community (i.e. MAGA) that is characterized by denial of reality, paranoia, and strong group identity tied to Trump\u2019s persona and messaging. Because Trump&#8217;s symptoms align with traits of <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-malignant-narcissism-sd8FhV31RbS_eXlDVDnkZg#0\">malignant narcissism<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-sociopathy-JsRpUARPRuG2I.3CjyprzQ#0\">sociopathy<\/a>, characterized by a lack of conscience and disregard for others&#8217; well-being, his followers blindly think like and behave like Trump. This affirming response by his followers contributes to his grandiose and violent tendencies which are modelled after authoritarian figures and fuels his political cult and legitimizes joint attempts to undermine democratic institutions.<\/p>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">These mental health assessments point to a complex, chronic condition with profound implications for public safety and political stability for as long as Trump, or someone like him, remains in power. They create a profound incentive for true patriots to disabuse Trump&#8217;s followers about the logic and morality of his tactics through quiet, surreptitious strategies that raise doubt in their hearts and minds about Trump and their uninhibited loyalty to him and congresspersons who do his bidding.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><!--nextpage--><strong>RETRIBUTION<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Donald Trump has consistently and aggressively pursued retribution against perceived enemies through public threats, legal investigations, and administrative actions. He\u00a0Trump employs intimidation tactics, such as threatening federal investigations, sanctions, or funding cuts to Democratic-led cities and states. Here is a short list of his targets:<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Political figures<\/strong>: Liz Cheney (accused of treason, mused about extreme punishment), six Democratic Congress members (threatened with sedition charges carrying death penalty), and Mark Milley (called treasonous).\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Legal and media<\/strong>: Special counsel Jack Smith (called for prison, labeled mentally deranged), Jan. 6 committee (demanded indictments), and law firms (stripped of contracts and clearances).\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Others<\/strong>: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell (considered dismissal), former FBI Director James Comey (indicted), and broadcasters (proposed license revocations).\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Trump campaigned explicitly on vengeance, declaring &#8220;I am your retribution&#8221; in 2023 speeches and framing revenge as &#8220;justified&#8221; Supporters like Steve Bannon view these as accountability, while critics compare it to Nixon-era tactics, marking a departure from social, civil and biblical norms. The White House frames actions as policy corrections, not revenge.\u200b He justifies revenge against &#8220;bad,&#8221; &#8220;evil,&#8221; and &#8220;sick&#8221; political opponents who spied on his campaign, pursued indictments, or challenged election claims. He rejects critics&#8217; objections by claiming, typically without factual evidence, that opponents are wrong and unity of the MAGA community requires stopping their destructiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Trump&#8217;s followers affirm his retribution efforts by framing them as essential accountability against the corrupt &#8220;deep state&#8221; weaponized justice system, and political betrayers. They express their approval through public endorsements, rallies, and social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Another way that Trump&#8217;s followers affirm his retribution efforts is by rejoicing in the punishment he imposes on political and social outgroups. The psy<span style=\"color: #000000;\">chological term that describes their responses to punishment &#8212; including retribution &#8212; is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-partisan-schadenfreude-a5ATOWLQTYiHlE5uwyeUJA#0\">partisan schadenfreude.&#8221;<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Partisan <span style=\"color: #000000;\">schadenfreude is predicted by evidence of several psychological traits including the following:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Ideological extremism<\/strong>: Those with extreme ideological views more frequently experience schadenfreude toward political opponents due to heightened affective polarization and intergroup hostility.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Social dominance orientation (SDO)<\/strong>: Individuals high on SDO, who prefer hierarchical group relations, show increased schadenfreude toward out-groups perceived as threats or rivals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Low empathy and moral disengagement<\/strong>: People lower in empathy and who morally disengage from out-group suffering tend to derive more pleasure from others&#8217; misfortune.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Dark Triad traits<\/strong>: <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-machiavellianism-YU2oh324SrSvila4WNW25Q#0\">Machiavellianism<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-narcissism-tre3L479TiqoclPXOHZeqw#0\">narcissism<\/a><\/span>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-psychopathy-01PGUusvTN6vLQy_ierVdQ#0\">psychopathy<\/a> correlate positively with schadenfreude, as these traits involve callousness, competitiveness, and prioritizing self-interests over others.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Strong partisan identity and trait aggression<\/strong>: Strong, internalized party identification along with aggressive personality traits predict expressing and enjoying partisan schadenfreude.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Enjoyment of opponents&#8217; suffering and stronger intergroup <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-antipathy-7GFqnG_OQqqDdw1_kg2FsA#0\">antipathy <\/a>which is the opposite of sympathy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nBecause most people, including Trump&#8217;s supporters are ignorant of these psychological traits in Trump, they are unable to recognize them in themselves, in Trump, in Trump&#8217;s loyalists in congress, or in their families, friends and coworkers. But, who knows, perhaps if they were exposed to brief, repetitive descriptions of these traits while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-doomscrolling-3OAHI.a5STii0uSP3uG_8A#0\">doomscrolling<\/a> through social media, they might relax their defenses and find truth that they can apply to their lives. It is a long shot, but in a divisive, partisan, social\/political environment like America, this strategy may be the only option.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><br \/>\n<strong>HOW LACK OF TRUST AFFECTS SOCIETY<\/strong><br \/>\nThe fact that most Americans distrust government basically means they don\u2019t trust politicians \u2014 especially at the federal level. Here are some ways that distrust manifests in voters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Decreased political participation:<\/strong> When people don&#8217;t trust the government, they are more likely to disengage from the political system, for example by abstaining from voting or not standing for political office.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Difficulty solving problems:<\/strong> Low trust makes it harder for the government to solve many of the country&#8217;s problems. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans believe that low trust in the federal government makes it more difficult to address key issues.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduced compliance with rules and laws:<\/strong> Low trust can lead to people ignoring official information and guidance, and failing to comply with important collective obligations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support for anti-system parties:<\/strong> Lack of trust may increase support for anti-establishment or populist political parties that promise to radically change the system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Demands for political reform:<\/strong> Low trust often leads to calls for reforming political institutions and processes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decreased legitimacy:<\/strong> When citizens become distrustful, the government finds it difficult to command legitimacy and respect.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Resource mobilization challenges<\/strong>: Low trust makes it harder for the government to mobilize resources needed to govern effectively.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Increased polarization:<\/strong> Intense political polarization, driven by ideological voices on social media, can make it difficult to pass legislation and address major problems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Acceptance of misinformation:<\/strong> In low-trust environments, people may be more susceptible to misinformation and conspiracy theories.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Economic impacts<\/strong>: Declining trust can negatively affect economic progress by shortening planning horizons and reducing cooperation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Social cohesion issues:<\/strong> Widespread distrust can damage social cohesion and lead to more disruptive or even violent actions by citizens.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Challenges in crisis response<\/strong>: Lack of trust may hamper the government&#8217;s ability to respond effectively to emergencies and crises.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In summary, lack of trust in government and politicians has real-time, far-reaching, negative consequences:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Political instability<\/li>\n<li>Weak, ineffective government<\/li>\n<li>Distrust in institutions<\/li>\n<li>Malfeasance and dysfunction in government<\/li>\n<li>Social and economic division<\/li>\n<li>Mental health deterioration<\/li>\n<li>Radicalized political and social activism<\/li>\n<li>Violence and rebellion<\/li>\n<li>Rise of conspiracy theories, lies and misinformation<\/li>\n<li>Existential fears that country is moving in the wrong direction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nAnyone who pays attention to media of any kind knows that these indicators of lack of trust exist in America today. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/politics\/2019\/07\/22\/trust-and-distrust-in-america\/\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">poll by the Pew Research Center about \u201cTrust and Distrust in America<\/a>\u201d reveals what most Americans know all too well.\u00a0At one level of analysis, the poll is a report card on how well politicians do the job of governing. But more than that, it is a report card on voters\u2019 lack of wisdom in choosing elected leaders that are trustworthy. Voters and politicians are both failing miserably.<\/p>\n<p>The consequences of voters\u2019 failure to exercise their civic responsibility to choose politicians with good character are startingly evident in the negative impacts on mental health and overall well-being that distrust generates:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Depression and Anxiety:<\/strong>\u00a0Individuals with low levels of trust are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation<\/li>\n<li>Heightened stress and worry about relationships<\/li>\n<li>Negative thought patterns and expectations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Relationship Difficulties:<\/strong>\u00a0Trust issues can severely impact a person&#8217;s ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. This can manifest as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Difficulty being vulnerable or emotionally intimate with others<\/li>\n<li>Constant suspicion of partners&#8217; motives or actions<\/li>\n<li>Jealous behaviors and excessive &#8220;fact-checking&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">The resulting relationship instability and lack of social support can further compound mental health challenges.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Reduced Life Satisfaction<\/strong>: Low interpersonal trust is associated with lower overall life satisfaction and subjective well-being. People who struggle to trust others may:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Have smaller social networks<\/li>\n<li>Experience less fulfillment from relationships<\/li>\n<li>Feel less secure in their daily lives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Increased Mental Distress:<\/strong>\u00a0Studies have found that low trust in others is a risk factor for frequent mental distress. This can lead to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Higher levels of perceived stress<\/li>\n<li>More days feeling mentally unwell<\/li>\n<li>Greater difficulty coping with life challenges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Potential for Mental Disorders:<\/strong>\u00a0While trust issues alone do not constitute a mental illness, severe lack of trust can be associated with or exacerbate certain mental health conditions, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Attachment disorders<\/li>\n<li>Personality disorders<\/li>\n<li>Psychotic disorders with paranoid features<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Physiological Effects:<\/strong>\u00a0Chronic distrust can trigger the body&#8217;s stress response, potentially leading to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Sleep disturbances<\/li>\n<li>Weakened immune function<\/li>\n<li>Increased risk of physical health issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mhanational.org\/issues\/state-mental-health-america\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Mental Health America conducted a study of mental health in America.<\/a>\u00a0Here are the key findings:<\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure>\n<div class=\"image2-inset can-restack\">\n<picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 424w, https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 848w, https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 1272w, https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 1456w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"sizing-normal\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 424w, https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 848w, https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 1272w, https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!Xq-r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png 1456w\" alt=\"\" width=\"578\" height=\"751\" data-attrs=\"{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/605f4f02-0960-498f-86e1-cdc73a4d227b_578x751.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:751,&quot;width&quot;:578,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:402071,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image\/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}\" \/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"image-link-expand\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">This study quantifies the consequences of raging distrust that exists in America today. The summary below reports how breakdown of trust in politicians, institutions and fellow Americans causes all kinds of social, political and economic problems:<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Political polarization and partisan gridlock<\/li>\n<li>Gun violence and crime<\/li>\n<li>Drug addiction<\/li>\n<li>Mental health crisis<\/li>\n<li>Racism and social inequality<\/li>\n<li>Healthcare affordability and access<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The common elements of these problems are distrust, anxiety and fear.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychchange.org\/fear-and-distrust.html\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Psychologists for Social Change<\/a>\u00a0explains the relationship between distrust and fear this way:<\/p>\n<div class=\"pullquote\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Fear and distrust are central to many mental health problems. Life events which are rated as dangerous are known to cause experiences of serious anxiety. Societies which are less trusting, also tend to be less equal, and have higher levels of mental health diagnoses. High levels of distrust are associated with an 80% increase in overall reported poor health. Low levels of trust also increase the chance of being diagnosed with depression by nearly 50%. People who live in neighborhoods which have high levels of distrust also have increased levels of all mental health problems, particularly psychosis. Loss of trust in the world and others is also known to be a precursor to suicide. Policies which increase distrust within and between communities are therefore poisonous to both community cohesion and individual mental health.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>This analysis makes a powerful argument for electing trustworthy politicians with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">good character.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><br \/>\n<strong>DISTRUST OF POLITICIANS LEADS TO DISTRUST OF OTHERS<\/strong><br \/>\nBlaming others for problems is a common rhetorical theme in American politics that Trump uses often. Low-level, pervasive, distrust makes it easy for Americans to blame other Americans \u2014 especially politicians, government, poor people of color and immigrants \u2014 for their problems. Politicians reinforce this thinking by blaming those \u201cothers\u201d for problems politicians have created. Blaming others exacerbates social\/political division and deflects personal responsibility for America\u2019s problems. These are control strategies that President Trump understands and uses effectively to increase his political power.<\/p>\n<p>Trump knows that creating a \u201cboogeyman\u201d to fear is a proven way to build party loyalty, attract voters and appeal for money. Hitler used this strategy effectively to make Jews the enemy of Germany. Christian Nationalists use the strategy to amp-up the fears many Americans have about immigrants.<\/p>\n<p>Trump knows that by blaming others for problems &#8212; including problems he creates &#8212;\u00a0 he excuses himself from personal responsibility for those problems. He knows that politicians who present themselves as saviors from undesirable circumstances make it easy for voters to focus on self-serving policies and conspiracy theories. He knows that the electorate rewards that rhetoric with money and votes. These unhealthy, dysfunctional relationships exist because voters don\u2019t know good character from bad and don\u2019t discern lies from truth.<\/p>\n<p>Once they are in office, politicians face the realities of governing in a hostile environment and realize that they are unable to fulfill promises made to voters. Politicians then work hard to deflect voters from their failed promises by blaming others. This is something Trump does often. He doesn&#8217;t care that his failed promises and ineffective governing breeds distrust of politicians and government. In fact, he wants people to abandon hope in government and put all their hope in him.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, because most Americans sincerely want to use their voting power to effect positive change as they see it, they vote for politicians like Trump who convey the impression that they are strong enough to fix all of America&#8217;s problems. He is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/what-is-a-flim-flam-man-fLz78oYKRcGsANb6fzrSIg#0\">flim-flam man<\/a> who baits voters with impossible promises that only a divine savior can deliver. They soon learn, however that they have elected tyrant who takes their money while destroying their hope for a better life.<\/p>\n<p>And so, the cycle continues. It\u2019s the democratic way, but Americans must face the reality that the system doesn\u2019t work because they don\u2019t know how to recognize good character or vote for politicians with good character instead of conmen who use fine sounding rhetoric that turns out to be empty promises.<\/p>\n<p>Although this is a highly simplified analysis, it makes three critical points:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Voters look to politicians to solve America\u2019s problems with legislation.<\/li>\n<li>Voters do not consider how they personally contribute to America\u2019s problems.<\/li>\n<li>Voters tend to choose elected officials on the basis of campaign rhetoric that includes appealing legislative ideas and party affiliation \u2014 not on the basis of character.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nIt should be obvious to all Americans that politicians with poor character will not govern to achieve the aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:<\/p>\n<div class=\"pullquote\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><em>&#8220;We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Preamble outlines six broad goals for government:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Form a more perfect Union that is not divided along racial, social, economic, political, religious or educational lines<\/li>\n<li>Establish Justice for all Americans<\/li>\n<li>Insure domestic Tranquility for all Americans<\/li>\n<li>Provide for the common defense<\/li>\n<li>Promote the general Welfare for all Americans<\/li>\n<li>Secure the Blessings of Liberty for current and future generations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nWhether they know the Preamble or not, these are the unspoken aspirations (i.e. dreams) of all Americans. Because these aspirations are not realized, Americans put the onus on politicians to fix the problems that obstruct their aspirations. In doing this, they conveniently deflect personal responsibility for electing those untrustworthy leaders. This makes the point for educating voters to identify good and bad character.<\/p>\n<p>Until voters are taught how to recognize good and bad character, they will continue to make bad voting choices that elect politicians with poor character. But the politicians with poor character that they elect can\u2019t\/won\u2019t fix the problems. These breeds angry, disappointed voters don\u2019t trust politicians or government. Worse yet, it is often true that people who don\u2019t trust politicians or government will also not trust fellow Americans. This means that distrust is toxic, contagious and breeds social\/political division.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">character qualities of poor leaders<\/a> that cause distrust and breed social division:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#What-is-leadership\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">What is leadership?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#What-is-bad-leadership\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">What is bad leadership?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-lack-empathy\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders lack empathy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-micromanage\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders micromanage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-communicate-poorly\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders communicate poorly<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-are-egotistical\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders are egotistical<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-resist-change\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders resist change<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-lack-vision-or-direction\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders lack vision or direction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-have-a-negative-mindset\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders have a negative mindset<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-are-inconsistent\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders are inconsistent<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-lack-transparency\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders lack transparency<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Bad-leaders-are-indecisive\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Bad leaders are indecisive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpplr.com\/blog\/2021\/10-characteristics-bad-leadership\/#Avoid-the-pitfalls-of-bad-leadership\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Avoid the pitfalls of bad leadership<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u200e<br \/>\nPoliticians with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">good character<\/a> understand that the toxic, relational dynamics of poor leadership spread like a virus throughout the country and spoil the unity called for in the Preamble. Therefore, politicians with good character will, to the best of their ability, legislate to satisfy the aspirations of all \u2014 not just some \u2014 Americans. But it must be said that politicians with good character wouldn\u2019t legislate just to appease Americans who do not live the American dream, or out of sympathy, morality, religious beliefs or social idealism. Of course, politicians with good character will relate to the struggles of disaffected Americans, but their primary motivation will always be to legislate to achieve the goals and aspirations specified in the Preamble to the Constitution. They would be the ideal models of true patriots. This is another sense in which they are leaders with good character.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>POOR MENTAL HEALTH IS CONTAGIOUS President Trump&#8217;s mental health, characterized by some experts as involving paranoia, narcissism, and impulsivity. In the era of ICE, some experts have speculated that sadism could be included in Trump&#8217;s character traits profile. These traits all affect Americans&#8217; mental health through emotional contagion, rhetorical modeling, and <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/trumps-influence-on-his-followers\/\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":170,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-130","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>TRUMP&#039;S INFLUENCE ON AMERICA&#039;S MENTAL HEALTH - Donald Trump: Understanding the Man and His Followers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/trumps-influence-on-his-followers\/\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/trumps-influence-on-his-followers\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"TRUMP&#039;S INFLUENCE ON AMERICA&#039;S MENTAL HEALTH - Donald Trump: Understanding the Man and His Followers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"POOR MENTAL HEALTH IS CONTAGIOUS President Trump&#8217;s mental health, characterized by some experts as involving paranoia, narcissism, and impulsivity. 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