Lacan, Reich, and Trumpism: Unraveling the Unconscious Forces Behind Political Idolatry

Sunday, September 22, 2024.

When we think about Trumpism, it's easy to focus on political arguments, media coverage, or even social media debates.

But if we take a step back and look at Trumpism through the lens of psychoanalysis, things get even more interesting.

In this post, we’re going to dive into two fascinating thinkers, Jacques Lacan and Wilhelm Reich, and how their theories can help us better understand the powerful psychological forces that fuel movements like Trumpism.

Let’s explore how Lacan’s ideas of identification and desire and Reich’s thoughts on repression and authoritarianism help explain why Trumpism has such a hold on many of its followers—and why, for some, it feels more like a personal connection than a political preference.

A Quick Look at Lacan and Reich

Before we dive into their ideas, here’s a brief introduction to Jacques Lacan and Wilhelm Reich, two of the most influential figures in psychoanalysis:

• Jacques Lacan (1901–1981) was a French psychoanalyst who reshaped Freudian theory by focusing on language, desire, and the structures of the unconscious.

His work is known for being complex and theoretical, but at its core, Lacan believed that our sense of self is shaped by language and our unconscious desires.

He introduced concepts like the mirror stage, the Symbolic, and objet petit a, all of which help explain how people experience the world and their desires.

• Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957) was an Austrian psychoanalyst who focused on how repression—especially sexual repression—affects our mental and emotional health.

Reich’s most famous idea was about character armor, a defense mechanism that develops when people suppress their desires. He believed that repression, particularly in societies under authoritarian rule, led to neurosis and a craving for strong leaders.

Reich was also a political activist and became known for his controversial ideas on energy (which he called orgone energy) and the ways that sexual repression shapes society.

With these two powerful thinkers in mind, let’s explore how their ideas apply to Trumpism.

Lacan’s Mirror Stage and the Identification With Trump

One of Lacan’s key ideas is the mirror stage, which describes how infants first recognize themselves in a mirror and begin to form their identity.

This process is a kind of misrecognition—what the infant sees in the mirror is an idealized, coherent version of themselves, but it’s not quite real.

Lacan believed that this process continues throughout life as we identify with external images and symbols to shape who we think we are.

In Trumpism, Trump becomes that mirror. His followers see in him an idealized version of themselves—a strong, confident figure who promises to fix what’s wrong and bring back a mythical “Great America.”

This identification is powerful because it taps into deep desires for security, success, and strength.

Even though the image of Trump might be a misrecognition (not necessarily reflecting reality), it provides followers with a sense of coherence and identity, just as the infant feels when seeing their reflection in the mirror for the first time.

The Symbolic and Trump’s Disruption of Language

Lacan also talked a lot about the Symbolic order, which is the system of language and social norms that structure our reality.

For Lacan, language doesn’t just help us communicate—it shapes how we see the world.

In Trumpism, Trump’s language disrupts this Symbolic order by rejecting political norms and embracing transgressive rhetoric.

His followers find a certain pleasure in this disruption because it feels like a break from the constraints of traditional politics.

This rebellious language gives Trump’s supporters a sense of freedom, a kind of jouissance (a term Lacan used for pleasure that comes from breaking the rules). Trump’s defiance of political correctness and his willingness to say what others won’t create a transgressive enjoyment that bonds his followers to him.

Reich’s Character Armor and the Appeal of Authoritarianism

Wilhelm Reich, on the other hand, offers a slightly different perspective.

He argued that people build character armor—psychological defenses—by repressing their emotions and desires, particularly sexual ones. In societies where authoritarianism is on the rise, this repression fuels a craving for strong leaders who offer security and control.

In Trumpism, Reich’s ideas are highly relevant.

Trump’s authoritarian style, with his promises of law and order, taps into the repressed fears and anxieties of his supporters. For many, he represents the father figure who will protect them from the chaos and insecurity of the modern world.

In this sense, Trump becomes not just a political leader but an emotional anchor for people whose anxieties are bubbling just below the surface.

Reich would say that Trump’s followers are drawn to his strength and power because these qualities help them suppress their own vulnerabilities. Trump offers them a sense of safety from the complexities of modern life, which Reich saw as a form of libidinal release—a release of the psychic energy that has been pent up by years of repression.

Lacanian Desire vs. Reich’s Repression

Both Lacan and Reich agree that desire plays a huge role in human behavior, but they see it from different angles.

For Lacan, desire is always about the objet petit a—the unattainable object of desire that keeps us striving for something we can never quite reach.

In Trumpism, Trump represents this unattainable fantasy—the idea of a perfect, restored America that is always just out of reach. This keeps his followers attached to him, constantly yearning for what he promises but never quite delivers.

Reich, however, focuses more on the repression of desire.

For Reich, the energy that is repressed—particularly sexual and emotional energy—finds expression in support for authoritarian leaders. Trumpism, in this sense, channels the repressed desires of his followers into loyalty to a strong figure who promises to restore order and control.

The Real, Anxiety, and Authoritarianism

Lacan’s concept of the Real—the chaotic and terrifying aspects of life that can’t be easily understood or symbolized—helps explain why people turn to authoritarian leaders like Trump.

The uncertainties of modern life—globalization, economic instability, and cultural shifts—represent the Real for many people. Trumpism offers a way to shield against the anxieties brought about by these forces, providing a symbolic framework in which Trump can contain or manage the chaos.

Reich’s ideas about repression also explain why people are drawn to authoritarianism in times of anxiety.

For Reich, the rigid structure of authoritarian personalities provides a defense against their own inner chaos. By aligning with a strong leader, Trump’s followers find an emotional refuge from the profoundly uncertain anxieties of modern life.

How Lacan and Reich Explain Trumpism

Both Lacan and Reich offer powerful insights into why Trumpism has such a strong psychological grip on its followers.

Lacan’s theories help us understand the identification with Trump as an idealized figure and the desire that keeps people attached to him, while Reich explains how repression and the appeal of authoritarianism feed this emotional loyalty.

Trumpism, seen through these two lenses, isn’t just about politics—it’s about the desires, fears, and anxieties of the people who support it.

Lacan and Reich’s ideas, explain how movements like Trumpism tap into deep psychological currents that go far beyond the surface of our current political discourse.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

REERENCES:

Evans, D. (2006). An introductory dictionary of Lacanian psychoanalysis. Routledge.

Reich, W. (1970). The mass psychology of fascism. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Lacan, J. (2007). Écrits: The first complete edition in English. W.W. Norton & Company.