Feelings of Insecurity as Driver of Anti-Establishment Sentiments
By Jan-Willem van ProoijenBookThe Psychology of Insecurity Edition1st Edition First Published2023 ImprintRoutledge Pages21 eBook ISBN9781003317623
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003317623-24/feelings-insecurity-driver-anti-establishment-sentiments-jan-willem-van-prooijen
ABSTRACT
Many citizens in contemporary society hold strong anti-establishment sentiments, as reflected in conspiracy theories, populist attitudes, and support for radical political movements. The current contribution examines the role of insecurity in such anti-establishment sentiments. First, the chapter reviews evidence from various disciplines that feelings of insecurity are a main driver of these different manifestations of anti-establishment sentiments. Second, the chapter illuminates how anti-establishment sentiments may be emotionally and cognitively appealing when people feel insecure. Specifically, (1) anti-establishment beliefs satisfy a cognitive need for epistemic clarity, by making complex societal problems and their solutions easy to understand. Furthermore, (2) anti-establishment beliefs foster self-enhancement: Believing that oneself or one’s group is part of a meaningful struggle against an immoral establishment increases feelings of importance. Finally, (3) anti-establishment beliefs stimulate a range of emotions that help people cope with insecurity. Anti-establishment movements glorify the past, and therefore, anti-establishment attitudes are associated with feelings of nostalgia; moreover, people may experience the struggle against powerful elites as exciting, highlighting the rewarding aspects of insecurity. I conclude that feelings of insecurity are key to understand anti-establishment sentiments.
(Dr E, 2023)
Prooijen (2023) apparently has contributed a small piece to the deep and skillful look into uncertainty by Crano, Forgas, and Fiedler (2023). The work speaks to "anti-establishmentism" as a "fertile soil" for the unfolding of coping mechanisms in response to feelings of insecurity. The piece reviews attraction to and connections between feeling fearful and responses in correspondence with "hacking the network." The person acting out in conflict with a system or process automatically self acknowledges an equivalence with that system that was perhaps lacking beforehand. Many find themselves excited by the high drama of resisting some feigned or actual oppressor power set ... and yet, do they actually oppose anything?
Dr E submits that many are actually just conforming to non conformity ... and are being lead "pied piper" to attack order itself, verbally, physically, and psychologically ... whether or not they oppose or align truly with such order. At one point, one political party was known as "knee jerk" and "bleeding heart"... which is the key to understanding the mass hypnotic trance of a mindless rebellion and extreme dissonant disruption.
As Berkelians in the 60's, Dr E's family would sit about and make fun of the TV commercials trying to command our minds...yet, they got our attention at least! As the inventor of neon signs would agree, getting the attention is fully 50% of the deal. Now the attention base can also be emotional hijacked into illogical patronage ... and to whatever cause or non cause the puppeteers may find useful. The issue is simply a lack of emotional mastery.
An essential key here today is that the mass of westerners, aka residents of the united states with western value systems and world beliefs, etc, are made malcontent purposefully by the same crew that is incendiary to atheism and disorder ... and has lead them to "Hate God." This is also why the mass thinks they hate POTUS DJT ... they are inbred into the thinking that they hate their society and parents and especially their Father...much less God... which has bread the ultimate malcontented-ness. A form of demonic witchcraft is upon the people and their savior team has been mistaken for their oppressor ... : Of course, the deceiver teams' intent all along. The issue Dr E takes with the author's view is that they barely touch at all upon spiritual matter(s) ... and yet, that is the crux of the issue.
Also though, perhaps more importantly, this piece has lead the inquiry into a review of the entire book which is to be released to the public any day now:
https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-Insecurity-Seeking-Certainty-Where-None-Can-Be-Found/Forgas-Crano-Fiedler/p/book/9781003317623#
