The Fear Trap: Why We Need a Rational Revolution |
As a psychotherapist with over 30 years of clinical experience, I am often asked to make sense of the profound psychological divisions currently defining our national political landscape—particularly in moments when actions, such as threatening a long-standing ally like Denmark, appear to undermine international stability, diplomatic norms, and NATO principles. Observers naturally ask whether this reflects, "folie à plusieurs," a shared delusional process. While such a diagnosis is neither literal nor clinically precise in this context, the behavior is nevertheless difficult to reconcile through conventional logic alone. At best, we are left only to speculate and scratch our bewildered heads.
One plausible reason is a psychological and sociocultural response rooted in fear—fear of loss, fear of displacement, fear of uncertainty—combined with limited exposure to diverse perspectives and critical information. When fear dominates, nuance and exceptions fade. Over time, this dynamic creates insular echo chambers that amplify threat narratives while filtering out contradictory evidence. What is particularly striking, and deeply concerning, is that this climate of dread is no longer confined to one group. It is now mirrored across political divides, leaving many people—regardless........