US culture is an incubator of ‘extrinsic values’. Nobody embodies them like the Republican frontrunner
Many explanations are proposed for the continued rise of Donald Trump, and the steadfastness of his support, even as the outrages and criminal charges pile up. Some of these explanations are powerful. But there is one I have seen mentioned nowhere, which could, I believe, be the most important: Trump is king of the extrinsics.
Some psychologists believe our values tend to cluster around certain poles, described as “intrinsic” and “extrinsic”. People with a strong set of intrinsic values are inclined towards empathy, intimacy and self-acceptance. They tend to be open to challenge and change, interested in universal rights and equality, and protective of other people and the living world.
People at the extrinsic end of the spectrum are more attracted to prestige, status, image, fame, power and wealth. They are strongly motivated by the prospect of individual reward and praise. They are more likely to objectify and exploit other people, to behave rudely and aggressively and to dismiss social and environmental impacts. They have little interest in cooperation or community. People with a strong set of extrinsic values are more likely to suffer from frustration, dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety, anger and compulsive behaviour.
Individuals reacting to oppression in a way that causes disease (mental illness) is part of the study of pathology.
Also, modern psychology is well aware U.S. culture is a pathogen, and the journalist was also aware considering they drew parallels between mental health and U.S. culture.
In fact, psychology is becoming more blended with sociology and medicine all the time. They can’t really be separated out the way they’ve been done in the past. Because of this, I’d like to point out, that the psychologists aren’t trying to blame individuals, but point at the conditions creating the disease.
And in the paper’s abstract, they pointed at U.S. political culture specifically (our social systems of oppression).