85. Mass Delusional Psychosis: Dr. Mark McDonald on How Fear is Destroying America

Psychiatrist Mark McDonald coined the term "mass delusional psychosis" to describe the fear-driven response that swept the nation during the pandemic. In this episode, I interviewed him about the events of 2020 and their impact on our society. We discuss how fear became a fuel, driving irrational and self-destructive behaviors that were not in our best interests.

Dr. McDonald highlights the shift in our society towards a culture that values safety over courage, risk-taking, and personal freedom. He points out the detrimental effects of this safety culture, such as the decline in IQ points among infants born during the lockdowns and the decrease in face-to-face interactions among young people. He also raises concerns about the erosion of masculinity and the impact it has on relationships and society as a whole.

The conversation delves into the importance of teaching virtue and morality, as well as the need to reaffirm the qualities of healthy masculinity. Dr. McDonald emphasizes the role of individuals in shaping the future and the need to save the younger generation from the damaging ideologies and behaviors that have taken hold. He warns that if we don't address these issues, we risk the extinction of our civilization.

The episode touches on the impact of the lockdowns on brain chemistry, particularly in terms of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. Dr. McDonald discusses the observed changes in behavior, such as acute onset OCD-like symptoms and the reliance on non-face-to-face interactions for dating. He expresses concern about the increasing demand for drugs to alleviate depression, anxiety, and fear, and the long-lasting consequences of these changes in brain chemistry.

Dr. Mark McDonald graduated from UC Berkeley and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Trained in adult as well as child and adolescent psychiatry at UCLA, he now works primarily with children in his west Los Angeles private practice. He is co-host of the podcast Informed Dissent and the author of United States of Fear and Freedom From Fear. His opinions have been widely published in local and national news, and he has been interviewed on a variety of platforms. Links to his writings on Facebook, X, and Substack can be found at www.dissidentmd.com.

Books mentioned in this episode can be found via these Amazon affiliate links or in my bookshop

• United States of Fear: How America Fell Victim to a Mass Delusional Psychosis by Dr. Mark McDonald 
• Freedom from Fear: A 12-Step Guide to Personal and National Recovery by Dr. Mark McDonald 
• The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt 
• Boys Adrift by Dr. Leonard Sax (see also: my recent interview with Dr. Sax)
• The Way of Men by Jack Donovan 

00:00 Start

02:30 United States of fear

06:09 Fuel of mass delusional psychosis

09:54 Moral rigidity and disgust

11:37 Incalculable societal damage

15:24 Safetyism and its consequences

19:07 Informed consent and individual freedom

23:27 Impact of lockdown on brain chemistry

27:13 Less sex among young adults

31:09 The redefinition of masculinity

36:52 Concerns about future generations

39:51 Sexualizing children

48:20 Lords and peasants in society

51:55 Sacrifices in education and society

56:13 Luxury beliefs in safe societies

01:00:05 The capacity for violence

01:04:05 Therapist indoctrination and patient harm

01:08:55 Detoxing from media

01:12:27 Fear addiction and urgency

01:16:59 Social media and success

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

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