Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

QueerDuck

(1,946 posts)
Thu May 21, 2026, 07:50 AM 3 hrs ago

Why is The Right So Afraid of Everything #psychology #politics #uspolitics #trump



I enjoy his videos very much. It's a rational, well-presented, organized. You don't need to be a psychiatrist to understand what he's talking about. He builds a foundation of knowledge and understanding and then applies the explanation to MAGA and Trump supporters.
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why is The Right So Afraid of Everything #psychology #politics #uspolitics #trump (Original Post) QueerDuck 3 hrs ago OP
Because very few things are more profitable than fear. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E 3 hrs ago #1
OK, conservatives' brains are responsive to fear. We knew that; it's always been obvious. Ocelot II 3 hrs ago #2
I don't have the answer to that question. But I think that understanding the problem... QueerDuck 3 hrs ago #4
Ignorance has a price. The Wizard 3 hrs ago #3
I think larwdem 2 hrs ago #5
This nicely aligns with part of my "hero's journey" thesis nuxvomica 1 hr ago #6

Ocelot II

(131,248 posts)
2. OK, conservatives' brains are responsive to fear. We knew that; it's always been obvious.
Thu May 21, 2026, 08:11 AM
3 hrs ago

So what do we do about it? If there's a substantial percentage of a population that's wired to respond more strongly to fear, how do we persuade them politically except by scaring them?

QueerDuck

(1,946 posts)
4. I don't have the answer to that question. But I think that understanding the problem...
Thu May 21, 2026, 08:21 AM
3 hrs ago

... is a big part of finding an effective and meaningful solution. And in that regard, I'm grateful that we have people like Lucas Bean to help sort it all out and to give us a better understanding of the mindset of who we're up against, and the uphill battle we're facing.

The Wizard

(13,861 posts)
3. Ignorance has a price.
Thu May 21, 2026, 08:16 AM
3 hrs ago

The reich uses fear division and loathing on the poorly educated for cheap political gain. It's why the GQP is anti education.
Way back in the 60s we had "question authority" as a starting point. With the GQP it's follow Dear Leader.
Thinking is a form of work, and Dear Leader's followers feel they're entitled to a good living without working for it. Don't forget the white supremacy factor either.

nuxvomica

(14,221 posts)
6. This nicely aligns with part of my "hero's journey" thesis
Thu May 21, 2026, 10:05 AM
1 hr ago

It's not so much liberal vs. conservative as innocence vs. corruption, but those labels themselves also perfectly align, at least nowadays. Innocence is characterized by honesty, playfulness, and wonder, and corruption by sham, drudgery, and fear. This Lucas Bean video reveals that the liberal brain has a well-developed section dealing with curiosity, ie. wonder, while the conservative has an overdeveloped amygdala, the section dealing with fear. It all relates to personal safety. When we feel safe, we can be honest, playful and curious, but when we don't, we are most likely to lie, just follow orders (drudgery), and see the world as threatening. My thesis offers a further explanation of how these conditions develop.

In the ideal childhood, we feel protected and use honesty -- a reverence for the truth, play, and curiosity to learn and grow so that when challenges are encountered (rites of passage) we develop and discover our own personal power. This learning also reveals that the world is a dangerous place but rather than shrinking from it, we can use our power to transform it into a safer place for the innocent who come along behind us, so that this cycle can begin anew.

The onset of adulthood brings with it a choice: answer the call of the hero, what I call the "heroic impulse", and commit ourselves to innocence, or fall into what may initially seem an easier path, to just give in to corruption. The former is always the harder choice but I believe that over thousands of years, myth and literature have instructed us to follow the hero's journey so that we can overcome such reluctance.

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.

Tell me more...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Why is The Right So Afrai...