Unraveling Mass Formation and Totalitarian Tendencies

Exploring the impact of mass formation on mental functioning, this chapter delves into how individuals in such groups can adopt irrational beliefs, lose sight of personal interests, and become intolerant of dissent. Historical examples are cited, demonstrating the bewildering behaviors and severe consequences that arise from mass formation. The discussion further examines how the mechanistic worldview of the Enlightenment has fueled societal disconnection, anxiety, and a quest for symbolic meaning, paving the way for totalitarian influences in modern technocratic contexts.