Understanding Trump Derangement Syndrome and Its Impact
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently discussed Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) with podcaster Adam Carolla. Kennedy suggested that TDS merits an official classification in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Though the comment was partially a response to a joke about a hypothetical TDS vaccine, Kennedy recognized that TDS is a phenomenon affecting many, including his family.
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert supports the existence of TDS. He observes that 75% of his liberal Manhattan clients exhibit symptoms, describing it as a major pathology, possibly the defining one of our time. Alpert shared his insights with Fox News Digital, noting that many individuals show an obsession with Trump, characterized by fixation and trauma, affecting their sleep and causing restlessness.
“People are obsessed with Trump. They’re fixated. They’re hyper-fixated,” Alpert noted, highlighting features of this disorder.
Despite acknowledging TDS as real, Kennedy and Alpert are mistaken in considering it a primarily individual mental disorder. TDS reflects mass hysteria, a broader societal issue. Treating individuals won’t solve it; instead, one must address the systemic factors encouraging this social contagion, similar to issues seen with trans identity.
An important distinction is necessary: addressing TDS requires addressing the media and societal influences perpetuating this phenomenon.
Characteristics of Mass Hysteria
Mass hysteria is characterized by certain traits:
- Symptoms triggered by a specific belief
- No underlying conditions to explain the symptoms
- Behavior that deviates from the norm
- Intense fear of exaggerated or non-existent threats
The media have fueled irrational fears about Trump, portraying him negatively across various platforms. This consistent messaging reinforces the idea that Trump is everywhere, akin to past figures like Napoleon Bonaparte, treated as bogeymen in historical contexts.
Adults perceive Trump as an existential threat, causing divisions with family and friends who support him. These divides are encouraged by media pieces and social platforms, which present breaking ties as a moral obligation.
Broad campaigns, opinion pieces, and viral videos target people to distance from Trump-supporting relatives, portrayed as a righteous duty. Data shows a shift in political alignment, with a report noting educated, affluent, white women moving more towards liberal views.
Addressing the Media’s Role
Addressing TDS necessitates confronting the media narratives that have grown and intensified over time. Historically, mass hysteria events occurred, like the 16th-century dancing plague or the Salem Witch Trials, but modern technology and social platforms magnify the spread.
The media’s portrayal of Trump as a continual threat to democracy persists, keeping TDS entrenched. Positive change hinges on influential figures and organizations in media and politics recognizing and ameliorating their contributions to this hysteria.
History reveals that mass hysteria naturally dissipates over time. For TDS to diminish faster, the responsibility falls on media and leftist figures to recognize and address their role in fostering this phenomena.