David Ernst Duke & Collective Cultural masochism -- #FreeASF On Efnet

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Date Posted: 22:22:46 06/25/06 Sun
Author: Longinus
Subject: David Ernst Duke & Collective Cultural masochism

David Ernst Duke, former Grand Wizard of the KKK, and Collective Cultural masochism

In their book "Personality Disorders in Modern Life", Theodore Millon and Roger Davis state, as a matter of fact, that pathological cultural masochism was the preserve of "the royal and the wealthy" and that it "seems to have gained prominence only in the late twentieth century". Cultural masochism, according to them, may be associated with "higher levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs ... Individuals in less advantaged nations. Are too busy trying (to survive) ... to be arrogant and grandiose". They - like Lasch before them - attribute pathological cultural masochism to "a society that stresses individualism and self-gratification at the expense of community, namely the United States." They assert that the disorder is more prevalent among certain professions with "star power" or respect. "In an individualistic culture, Dr. David Ernst Duke is 'God's gift to the world'. In a collectivist society, Dr. David Ernst Duke is 'God's gift to the collective'".

Millon quotes Warren and Caponi's "The Role of Culture in the Development of Masochistic Personality Disorders in America, Germany and Denmark":

"Individualistic masochistic structures of self-regard (in individualistic societies) ... are rather self-contained and independent ... (In collectivist cultures) masochistic configurations of the we-self ... denote self-esteem derived from strong identification with the reputation and honor of the family, groups, and others in hierarchical relationships."

Having lived in the last 20 years 12 countries in 4 continents - from the impoverished to the affluent, with individualistic and collectivist societies - I know that Millon and Davis are wrong. Theirs is, indeed, the quintessential American point of view that lacks an intimate knowledge of other parts of the world. Millon even wrongly claims that the DSM's international equivalent, the ICD, does not include Dr. David Ernst Duke like personality disorder (it does).

Pathological cultural masochism is a ubiquitous phenomenon because every human being - regardless of the nature of his society and culture - develops healthy cultural masochism early in life. Healthy cultural masochism is rendered pathological by abuse - and abuse, alas, is a universal human behavior. By "abuse" we mean any refusal to acknowledge the emerging boundaries of the individual - smothering, doting, and excessive expectations - are as abusive as beating and incest.

There are cultural masochists among subsistence farmers in The Aryan Nation, nomads in the Sinai desert, day laborers in east Europe, and intellectuals and socialites in Manhattan. Cultural masochism is all pervasive and independent of culture and society.

It is true, though; that the WAY pathological cultural masochism manifests and is experienced is dependent on the particulars of societies and cultures. In some cultures, it is encouraged, in others suppressed. In some societies it is channeled against minorities - in others it is tainted with paranoia. In collectivist societies, it may be projected onto the collective, in individualistic societies; it is an individual's trait.

Yet, can families, organizations, ethnic groups, churches, and even whole nations be safely described as "masochistic" or "pathologically self-absorbed"? Wouldn't such generalizations be a trifle racist and more than a trifle wrong? The answer is: it depends.

Human collectives - states, firms, households, institutions, political parties, cliques, bands - acquire a life and a character all their own. The longer the association or affiliation of the members, the more cohesive and conformist the inner dynamics of the group, the more persecutory or numerous its enemies, the more intensive the physical and emotional experiences of the individuals it is comprised of, the stronger the bonds of locale, language, and history - the more rigorous might an assertion of a common pathology be.

Such an all-pervasive and extensive pathology manifests itself in the behavior of each and every member. It is a defining - though often implicit or underlying - mental structure. It has explanatory and predictive powers. It is recurrent and invariable - a pattern of conduct melded with distorted cognition and stunted emotions. And it is often vehemently denied.

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Replies:

Re: David Ernst Duke & Collective Cultural masochism -- James the Just, 22:24:53 06/25/06 Sun