Groupthink/Mass formation arises from the meeting of four psychological conditions at the population level ( not exclusive to the Right by any means) Desmet explains: feelings of social isolation, the absence of meaning in life, free-floating anxiety (lacking a clear object) and free-floating anger and frustration.
The ingredients are thus present for mass formation. Still missing is the catalyst: a narrative which heightens fear while providing an object against which anxiety can be directed – perhaps rationalized using the latest scientific “advances.” Suddenly the lonely, lost and anxious individual can contribute meaningfully to a (seemingly) worthy project. Many thus regain a sense of purpose and feeling of fellowship from doing right by their fellow citizens. A new social bond, even a new kind of citizenship, can emerge, says Desmet. This is the most important aspect of mass formation. It is maintained by indoctrination and propaganda “injected on a daily basis via mass media,” even as alternative voices are systematically silenced.
Populations are typically not uniform in their mass formation response, Desmet finds. About one-third fully internalize the process, become completely committed and willingly promote the narrative. A middle 40-50 percent may not be entirely convinced but go along to get along, especially if a job, key relationship or other asset is at risk. The final 10-30 percent remain independent in their thinking and some engage in outright dissent.ntelligence and education are no protection; to the contrary, the highly educated can be the most receptive, especially when science is enlisted in the cause.
“It is here that we, together with Hannah Arendt, situate the undercurrent of totalitarianism,” Desmet writes, “A naïve belief that a flawless, humanoid being and utopian society can be produced from scientific knowledge. The Nazi idea of creating a purebred superman based on eugenics and social Darwinism, and the Stalinist ideal of a proletarian society based on historical-materialism are prototypical examples.”
More immediately, mass formation generates what Desmet calls the “astounding” characteristics of totalitarian behaviour among the population: the sacrifice of the personal to the (alleged) good of the collective, intolerance of dissident voices, an informant mentality, susceptibility to pseudo-scientific indoctrination and propaganda, and the blind following of a narrow logic impervious to counter-evidence and transcending ethical boundaries. “The crowd acts in a coordinated way and repeats the same slogans,” Desmet notes. “It engages thoughts and expressions that spread through its ranks at lightning speed....aggression that is still looking for an object. Historically, this object has been the group that refuses to go along with the narrative. We should not underestimate where this could go"