Madness and the Political Divide

Madness and the Political Divide draws on psychiatry and ethics in an attempt to understand and bridge the political divide. Allen R. Dyer explores meanings of "madness" in different contexts, from the medical world to a contemporary society of "alternate realities." Underlying the denial of reality is the fear of unpleasant realities: existential threats such as global climate change, pandemics, and war increase anxiety and our vulnerability to the false promises of authoritarian leadership and to the erosion of democracy. With reference to psychoanalytic theory, psychology, ethics, and philosophy, Dyer explores how we can balance emotions with reasoned action, not overwhelmed by fear nor underwhelmed by denial. Madness and the Political Divide will be of great interest to psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, and those in other mental health disciplines. It will be highly relevant for academics and scholars in philosophy, history, and literature, and for readers interested in ethics, justice, and human values.

Allen R. Dyer is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at The George Washington University. He is a graduate of Brown University and received MD and PhD (Ethics) degrees from Duke University. He is Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Nancy Roeske Award in Recognition of Outstanding and Sustained Contributions to Medical Education, an award and recognition for humanitarian services to the Iraqi people, and the Bruno Lima Award for disaster psychiatry.

Preface Introduction Acknowledgements Interlude: The Emperor's New Clothes Chapter 1. Toward an Understanding of Madness Interlude: Cheshire Cat Logic Chapter 2. Ethics and the profession of Psychiatry Interlude: Pinocchio: Always Let your conscience be your guide. Chapter 3. The Madness of Crowds Interlude: Julius Caesar and Seditious Conspiracy Chapter 4. Madness and Misinformation: Social Media, AI, and the Perversion of Reality Interlude: Gaslighting Chapter 5. Madness and the Moral Inversion Interlude: The Rolling Stones Chapter 6. Madness and the Human Condition Interlude: Richard III's plea for "A horse, a horse": Enough Is Never Enough Chapter 7. Terror, Terror Management, and Threats to Existence Interlude: Captain Ahab's Obsession: Rage Trumps Reason Chapter 8. Narcissism Reconsidered: Toward a Stable View of Self in Society Interlude: Call me Ishmael Chapter 9. Conclusion - Sanity and Survival Epilogue: The Quest for Justice Coda: To Thine Own Self Be True