Psycho-socio-political science

The Chinese word for crisis is Wei Ji 危机 Wei means crisis while Ji means opportunity. Opportunities often arise from crises—natural, social, financial disruptions, upheavals.

Throughout American history, certain groups have resisted change and clung to traditional structures during times of upheaval. In the 1770s, Loyalists preferred British rule, fearing the chaos of independence. In the 1860s, Confederates fought to preserve slavery and their social order, opposing federal efforts to end it. Today, the MAGA movement, led by Donald Trump, echoes similar fears, rejecting shifts in demographics and culture while idealizing a past version of America. These groups share a psychological pattern: fear of change, a desire for control, and a tendency to view outsiders—like revolutionaries, abolitionists, or immigrants—as threats. This pattern reflects what Swiss psychologist Carl Jung called the “collective Shadow,” the hidden fears and flaws a person or, collectively, a society ignores, suppresses, and/or projects onto others.

The collective Shadow includes traits like fear, greed, or authoritarianism that people or societies deny in themselves. When these traits are projected onto others, it creates an “us vs. them” Mutual blame fuels division, as neither side confronts its own shortcomings. Trump’s leadership amplifies this by embodying narcissistic traits—self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and a need for admiration—that resonate with these hidden flaws, fears, making polarization worse.

This division isn’t just a social issue—it’s part of a broader crisis. Climate change, for instance, is worsening, with Earth’s reflectivity (albedo) declining due to melting ice and changing clouds, accelerating global warming. Recycling rates are dropping globally, with the US and Europe consuming far more resources than their share. Disasters like floods and cyclones displaced 45.8 million people in 2024 alone, with 80 million now living in displacement worldwide. Yet, some leaders, including figures in the Trump administration, downplay these issues, promoting “alternative facts” that dismiss science. This denial risks delaying action on climate change, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences like mass displacement, resource shortages, or even extinction-level events if unchecked.

Prognosis: If polarization and denial continue, America and the world face serious risks. Division prevents unified action on climate change, resource overuse, and displacement, which could lead to more disasters, economic collapse, or conflicts over scarce resources. The rich would shield themselves, leaving the poor and vulnerable to suffer most, as suggested by policies prioritizing wealth over collective solutions. Police state ensues? Without addressing the collective Shadow, societies may spiral into further conflict, unable to cooperate on global challenges.

To avoid these outcomes, the US, in cooperation with Europe, etc, could take practical steps: 1.Acknowledge Fears/Flaws, 2.Promote Unity & Dialogue, 3.Act on Climate Change, 4.Educate & Engage, and 5.Hold Leaders Accountable.

America’s current challenges stem from historical patterns of fear & division, amplified by psychological dynamics like the collective Shadow. By recognizing these patterns, fostering dialogue, and taking action on global issues like climate change, we can move toward a more unified and sustainable future. Today’s committed youth can start diplomatically engaging those who haven’t awoken to the threats of climate change, and advocating for a better world. (Threats include flooding from atmospheric rivers, dropping dead from wet bulb temperatures, the increasing size & frequency of tornadoes, coastal flooding. Take your pick of deadly consequences of not greening US policies; on top of the threats of resource-scarcity, hyperinflation… To those who already know all that and, therefore, advocate for race war, I guess it’s…like the three rules of real estate. Don’t be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Be a chameleon. Flow with the Way that seeks the low-tao (“lowdown”).