Manufacturing Cannon Fodder—Psychological Impact
Trust is a measure of other people’s virtue.
“Trustworthiness” is often linked to virtue; it's essential to distinguish between the act of trusting and the quality of being trustworthy. Trustworthiness, as a virtue, involves consistently acting in a reliable, honest, and ethical manner with integrity, competence, and care. Trust is a fundamental aspect of social interaction, enabling cooperation, collaboration, and the development of strong relationships. Trustworthiness can be applied in various contexts, including personal relationships, professional settings, and societal institutions.
Why is there so little trust these days?
Crisis of grievance puts pressure on trust—2025 Edelman Trust Barometer
The 25th anniversary edition of the Edelman Trust Barometer has revealed a profound shift to acceptance of aggressive action, with political polarization and deepening fears giving rise to a widespread sense of grievance.
America, says Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Chris Hedges, is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair, and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis; the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress; the pornification of culture; the rise of magical thinking; the celebration of sadism, hate, and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As our society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change. All these ills presage a frightening reconfiguration of the nation and the planet.
Threat Assessment? What Threat Assessment?
Careerist politicians and multinational corporations are selling the need for wars across the globe. The goal is to stoke fear, create instability, and shift people’s focus from the critical challenges our species must contend with in the 21st Century, a.k.a. the polycrisis, towards enmity with countries worldwide. Nations that only want to be left alone to pursue their sovereign goals within their region. The “War on Terror,” Drugs, and Immigration have proven to be inadequate. Energy and materials must be acquired from regions worldwide to maintain the wealth pump, liquidity, and profits. The easiest way to maintain business as usual is through debt financing, which always benefits elite Players at everyone else’s expense.
Portugal issued travel warnings for the U.S. as people are being questioned and denied entry, deported, and arrested for criticizing its government.
Portugal is now one of a growing number of European countries that have updated travel advice for the U.S. as America’s stricter immigration and enforcement practices under President Donald Trump have caused global concern.
It comes following a number of U.S. border-entry incidents that have happened in recent weeks, including a French scientist being denied entry after border officials searched his phone and found messages that were critical of Trump, and U.K. tourist Becky Burke also being detained at border control.
Wealthy people in Europe are building luxury bunkers while telling the Plebs and Proles to prepare for disaster. As if having a few days of supplies will protect them from a world war with nuclear powers, another pandemic, The Sixth Extinction/Ecocide, and rapid Global Heating due to carbon emissions. Europeans and the United States of Americans have been reduced to a state of constant stress caused by inequality, stagnant wages, and job insecurity. Life expectancy in the United States is dropping, and civil liberties are under threat. Europe’s welfare “Union” is going away, and the people who drove us into this predicament must shift blame elsewhere and maintain control, or a dangerous “Rabel” may form that threatens their position, status, and wealth.
An EU official said Wednesday that threats to the EU and its security are rising, with geopolitical tensions in the bloc's neighborhood — such as Russia's war in Ukraine — having brought security to the forefront of a rising number of citizens' minds.
"I wouldn't say that we have an acute threat of a military attack, but of course, we consider Russia to be much more of a concrete threat than we used to," researcher Hakala said.
"Most countries actually in Europe nowadays also recognize climate risks," the expert added. "That's because they have been significant with all kinds of flooding and torrential rain and storms around Europe."
Hakala also pointed out that so-called hybrid threats, such as cyberattacks on hospitals, which can paralyze public health infrastructure, are also becoming "more recognized and more concrete."
Hey, world leaders, how about working towards preventing risks? The world has problems, and our leaders are the solution. Really? It’s time people worked harder to incentivise the kinds of leadership we need to maintain a healthy world fit for Life.
Again, I encourage you to read:
“Europe’s Remilitarization Myth: Why Building on the Success of Rearmament is a Bad Idea.”
Every major country in the world that is fully engaged with the global economy has been borrowing against future energy and material stocks for decades, with no idea of how to create a Global economic system that could be sustainable, fit for Life, and the health and welfare of its citizens in the long term. Business as usual is about moving wealth to elite Players quickly and relentlessly while ordinary people fight for their lives.
For now, we have enough energy and materials to maintain the Great Game, but the low-hanging fruit is gone, and the Players have realized their predicament. There will be one last major competition for control of what’s left. The old rivalries are forming, and a new confrontation has already begun. The stakes could not be higher, and, as usual, ordinary people will be crushed.
World War II resulted in an estimated 40 to 50 million civilian deaths, a staggering number that dwarfs the number of military personnel killed, highlighting the immense human cost of the conflict. If we lose 3% of today’s 8 billion people, the casualties will be higher this time around for many reasons; we’re looking at at least two hundred 40 million deaths as a direct consequence of World War. This time, the destruction will be orders of magnitude worse and accelerate civilizational collapse. There will be no coming back from another World War.
A full-scale nuclear war between major powers could lead to billions of deaths, with estimates ranging from 360 million direct fatalities to potentially 5 billion deaths from starvation and other long-term consequences due to climate disruption.
“I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” — Albert Einstein.
War is a losing proposition for all those involved, especially when the polycrisis is rapidly approaching its peak, beyond which our global civilization faces imminent collapse. There won’t be a World War III.
In the 21st Century, at least 4.5 to 4.7 million people have died as a direct or indirect result of the post-9/11 wars, including those in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, with an estimated 408,000 civilian deaths directly from the fighting. We won’t know anything close to the exact numbers of casualties in the Greater Israel War and the War in Ukraine for many years to come—the tally goes up every hour. These conflicts could have been prevented if leaders of the major powers were incentivized to do so.
Key Findings from the Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs—Costs of War
At least 408,000 civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen died as a direct result of the post-9/11 wars. Civilian deaths have also resulted from U.S. post-9/11 military operations in Somalia and other countries.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in these war zones, bringing the total death toll of the post-9/11 wars to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
More than 7.6 million children under five in post-9/11 war zones are suffering from acute malnutrition.
Indirect war deaths from reverberating effects, like malnutrition and the destruction of healthcare systems and the environment, far outnumber deaths from combat.
There has never been a time when diligent peacemaking and global cooperation were more vital, yet to the Players of The Great Game, war is the solution to everything.
Prepping for disaster is something people should do, but why now? If our leaders are doing a great job, why do we suddenly have so much to worry about? To riff off of Gordon Gecko from the film Wall Street:
“Fear is good, fear is right, fear works, fear clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Fear, in all of its forms fear of losing one’s Life to super villains, fear of not having enough money, fear of not having enough love, support, knowledge, healthcare, food has marked the upword serge of the USA, and fear, you mark my words, will not only save the United States of New Miracles, but that other malfunctioning corporation called Europe.”
When the cult of The Great Game exerts itself on ordinary people, its methods of control and manipulation continue over various phases, which are then repeated in perpetuity to ensure the results elite Players require to be winners in The Great Game 2.0 21st Century. The Great Game constantly accelerates, devouring more energy and resources until habitats are so degraded that they can no longer support civilization at scale. Until the Long Whimper Period ends, how horrific will human suffering become as our ecocidal project continues? And most would not consider long-suffering Life at all, preferring to believe ecocide is not caused by human civilization, regardless of multiple lines of evidence going back tens of thousands of years to the contrary.
Please read:
The First People of the Prairie (the Great Plains of Middle Northern America)
Clovis was not the first humans in North America, but may have been the first to inhabit the Great Plains. The footprints left at White Sands NM may date from ~23,000 to 21,000 years ago, and may have been those of a pre-expansionist form of human having no species extinctions associated with them during the 10 millennia they lived in North America.
Chaos and War are Wealth Pumps feeding the Players’ unrelenting ambition. Players are hyper-competitive “leaders” with dark tetrad personality traits and a stubborn addiction to the seven deadly sins. The service providers to the leading Players also exhibit psychological pathologies as they compete for lucrative contracts, improving their status in the hope of becoming Players themselves or valued low-level members of The Great Game.
If you think that is an overstatement, consult with qualified experts in literature, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, sociology, history, biology, and physics.
Psychological Impact of the Breakdown Phase
Erosion of Self-Esteem: Constant criticism and devaluation lead to diminished self-worth. You are never as good as those who manipulate you.
Increased Anxiety and Fear: An unpredictable and hostile environment creates chronic stress and anxiety. Stress causes more problems that need profitable solutions. *Novel problems searching for novel solutions are a feature of the system we have been conditioned to believe in (insert “Unicorn” here).
Confusion and Self-Doubt: Gaslighting makes the person question their sanity and reality.
Dependence: Isolation and deprivation increase reliance on the manipulator for basic needs and emotional support.
Learned Helplessness: Repeated negative experiences where their actions seem to have no positive impact can lead to a sense of powerlessness.
Everything in this outline happens to you daily, whether you know it or not. We are a pacified, expendable, domesticated workforce used as a resource to pump profits to the Players of The Great Game and their elite service providers.
Rebuilding (on the Manipulator’s Terms)
Intermittent Positive Reinforcement: After harsh treatment, the manipulator will offer occasional praise, affection, or small acts of kindness. These “crumbs” are highly effective because the person is deprived emotionally and desperately seeks approval.
Creating a Sense of Specialness/Exclusivity: The manipulator might sometimes make the person feel uniquely understood or valued, reinforcing the bond and the desire to please them.
Offering Solutions and Support (for problems they created): The manipulator might step in to “help” with problems they instigated, creating a sense of dependence and gratitude.
Shifting Blame Externally: The manipulator might blame others for past adverse treatment, portraying themselves as a victim or as having acted out of necessity, thus excusing their behavior and gaining sympathy.
Establishing New Rules and Norms: The rebuilding phase often involves subtly (or not so subtly) establishing new rules and expectations within the relationship or group, which benefit the manipulator and further restrict the person’s autonomy.
Psychological Impact of the Rebuilding Phase
Hope and Relief: The positive attention temporarily relieves the abuse and fosters a false hope that things will improve permanently.
Increased Attachment and Loyalty: The intermittent kindness creates a stronger emotional bond, as the person may feel they need to work harder to earn the manipulator’s approval. This can lead to a form of trauma bonding or dynamics similar to Stockholm syndrome, where positive feelings develop towards the abuser as a survival mechanism.
Internalization of the Manipulator’s Narrative: Due to gaslighting and the desire for approval, the person may start to believe the manipulator’s version of reality and their own supposed flaws.
Fear of Losing the “Good” Treatment: The person becomes afraid of displeasing the manipulator and returning to the devaluation phase, so they become more compliant.
Control and Maintenance
The Cycle Continues: Breaking down and rebuilding become cyclical patterns. The manipulator maintains control by alternating between these phases, keeping the person in a state of emotional instability and dependence.
Reinforcing Dependence: The manipulator controls resources, information, and social interactions to ensure the person remains reliant on them.
Threats and Intimidation: Explicit or implicit threats discourage the person from challenging the manipulator’s authority or leaving the situation.
Why is this effective for control?
Weakened Sense of Self: The breakdown phase undermines the person’s confidence and ability to trust their judgment.
Emotional Dependence: The intermittent reinforcement creates a strong emotional attachment and a fear of losing the manipulator’s approval.
Distorted Reality: Gaslighting makes it difficult for the person to recognize the abuse and seek help.
Fear of Consequences: Threats and isolation prevent the person from leaving or resisting.
It’s essential to recognize that this is a form of psychological abuse and can have severe and long-lasting negative impacts on our mental health and well-being. We are all victims of these cycles of abuse, whether we recognize it or not.
Gaslighting as a Core Component
Gaslighting is a central tactic within the “breakdown” phase. By denying the person’s reality, memories, and feelings, the manipulator makes them doubt themselves and their sanity. This erosion of self-trust is crucial for making the person more dependent on the manipulator’s version of events and easier to control.
Other Associated Terms
Coercive Control is the overarching pattern of behavior designed to dominate and control another person. The breakdown and buildup cycle is a key mechanism within coercive control.
Emotional Abuse includes consistent criticism, humiliation, and gaslighting, all of which are forms of emotional abuse that erode the victim’s psychological well-being.
Psychological Manipulation is the broader category that encompasses many of the tactics used, including gaslighting, isolation, and creating instability.
Invalidation is when the manipulators consistently dismiss and deny the person’s feelings and experiences, making them feel worthless and misunderstood.
Triangulation involves introducing a third party (real or imagined) to create jealousy or insecurity or to reinforce the manipulator’s narrative.
Negging: Giving backhanded compliments or subtle insults to undermine the person’s self-esteem and make them seek the manipulator’s approval.
Isolation: Deliberately separating the person from their support network to increase dependence on the manipulator.
Degradation: Actions or words intended to lower the person’s self-respect and make them feel ashamed.
Dehumanization: Treating the person as less than human, making it easier for the manipulator to justify their abusive behavior.
Creating Chaos: Maintaining an unpredictable and stressful environment to keep the person off balance and easier to control.
Related to the “Build Up” Phase and Maintenance of Control
Intermittent Reinforcement: Providing inconsistent rewards (praise, affection) after periods of abuse creates a strong emotional bond and makes the person try harder to please the abuser. This is a powerful concept from behavioral psychology that explains why victims often stay in abusive relationships.
Trauma Bonding: A strong emotional attachment that develops between an abused person and their abuser. It often arises from cycles of abuse followed by periods of kindness or remorse from the abuser.
Stockholm Syndrome: A psychological response where hostages or abuse victims develop positive feelings towards their captors or abusers. This can occur as a survival mechanism.
Love Bombing: An initial phase of excessive attention, affection, and gifts used to quickly establish a strong bond and make the person more susceptible to manipulation later on.
Financial Abuse: Controlling the person’s access to money and resources to increase dependence.
Technological Abuse: Using technology (e.g., monitoring devices, social media) to track, control, and isolate the person.
Intimidation: Using threats, coercion, and fear to maintain control.
Health Insecurity: Anxiety due to barriers to healthcare and lifestyle diseases.
These forms of manipulation on an individual level can be scaled up and used to break down a society, making it more susceptible to authoritarian or fascist rule. Your observations about Nazi Germany are highly relevant and illustrate this process effectively.
Applying “Break Down” Tactics to Society
Creating Crises and Instability: Just as an individual manipulator might create chaos, a potential authoritarian regime might allow or even instigate economic hardship, social unrest, or external threats (real or exaggerated), creating a sense of vulnerability and a desire for strong leadership to restore order.
Scapegoating and Blame Shifting: Identifying an “enemy” group (minorities, immigrants, foreign nations, internal dissenters) and blaming them for the society’s problems serves the same function as individual criticism. It deflects responsibility from the leadership and creates a unifying “us vs. them” mentality. This was a cornerstone of Nazi ideology, blaming Jews and other groups for Germany’s woes.
Fearmongering and Propaganda: Spreading fear and anxiety about the identified enemy or the current state of affairs disorients the population and makes them more receptive to drastic solutions offered by the aspiring leader. This is the societal equivalent of individual gaslighting, distorting reality, and creating a sense of constant threat.
Erosion of Trust in Institutions: Undermining faith in existing institutions like the press, judiciary, and democratic processes weakens the checks and balances that could resist authoritarianism. This mirrors the individual isolation tactic, removing sources of alternative information and support.
Suppression of Dissent: Silencing opposing voices through censorship, intimidation, or violence eliminates alternative perspectives and reinforces the dominant narrative. This is akin to an individual manipulator isolating their victim from dissenting opinions.
Historical Revisionism and Myth-Making: Creating a selective and often distorted version of history to glorify the in-group and demonize the out-group, fostering a sense of unique destiny and grievance.
Applying “Build Up” Tactics (on the Regime’s Terms) to Society
Offering a Vision of Order and Strength: The authoritarian leader presents themselves as the sole individual capable of solving the manufactured crises and restoring the nation to greatness. This resonates with the individual victim’s desire for relief and stability.
Promising Prosperity and Security (conditional on obedience): The leader offers a utopian vision of the future, but this prosperity and security are contingent on absolute loyalty and adherence to their ideology. This mirrors the intermittent positive reinforcement on an individual level.
Creating a Sense of National Unity and Belonging: Emphasizing shared identity, values, and a common enemy fosters a strong sense of in-group cohesion and loyalty to the leader. This taps into the fundamental human need for belonging but directs it towards the authoritarian regime.
Cult of Personality is the creation of an idealized and often deified image of the leader, portraying them as infallible and essential for the nation’s survival. This creates an emotional attachment and discourages critical thinking.
Ideological Brainwashing and Indoctrination: Through propaganda, education, and cultural control, the regime instills its ideology deeply within the population, shaping their beliefs and values. This is the societal equivalent of the individual victim internalizing the manipulator’s narrative.
Rituals and Symbolism: Utilizing powerful symbols, rallies, and nationalistic rituals reinforces the ideology and creates a sense of collective fervor and submission.
The Leader’s Rhetoric
Your example of the leader’s statement perfectly encapsulates this process:
“Society was broken until I came in...” Establishes the leader as the necessary savior and reinforces the idea of a past crisis.
“...identified the true problems and harnessed your energy to fight against them.”Identifies the scapegoat and mobilizes the population’s emotions towards a common enemy.
“Now, if you do as I command, you will only become more prosperous and take your place in the world as the special society you are.”: Offers a conditional reward (prosperity, national pride) for obedience and reinforces a sense of superiority and exceptionalism.
Historical Examples
As you correctly pointed out, history is replete with examples of this. Beyond Nazi Germany, consider:
Stalinist Russia: The creation of enemies of the state, the cult of personality around Stalin, and the suppression of dissent.
Fascist Italy under Mussolini: Emphasis on national glory, creating an external “other,” and suppressing political opposition.
Various totalitarian regimes throughout history: The pattern of creating crises, identifying enemies, offering simplistic solutions, and demanding absolute loyalty is a recurring theme.
The psychological mechanisms of manipulation, whether applied to an individual or scaled up to an entire society, exploit fundamental human needs and vulnerabilities. By understanding these processes, we can become more aware of the warning signs and more resilient to attempts at societal manipulation and the rise of authoritarianism. Critical thinking, a free and independent press, strong democratic institutions, and an educated and engaged citizenry are crucial defenses against these dangers.
Once you see things as they are, you are fundamentally changed, and the only way to gain a modicum of agency is through community organizing and action. We must replace The Great Game with a better Way of Life before it’s too late.
