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Resentment begins with feeling denied something, then evolves to devalue virtues like kindness or generosity as fake. The resentful person concludes that lower impulses like selfishness and lust for power are the only authentic human motivations, a mindset David Brooks argues Donald Trump embodies.
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In large, impersonal societies, it is difficult to gauge a person's character (virtue). Consequently, people seek status through easily observable metrics like wealth and achievement (success). This focus on quantifiable symbols of worth drives persistent status anxiety.
The rise of populism is better understood as a resurgence of humanity's innate "groupish" and tribal instincts. This regression is amplified by a modern cocktail of social media, rapid migration, and weakening political institutions, making it a deeper cultural and psychological phenomenon than just an economic one.
When people are unwilling or unable to feel their own emotional pain, they often transform it into actions that cause pain to others. This applies to individuals lashing out and leaders giving their followers someone to hate.
The discomfort felt by those from lower-income backgrounds around the wealthy is not just envy, but a deep-seated frustration. It stems from the belief that those who grew up with money can sympathize but never truly empathize with the constant stress and lack of a safety net that defines life without it.
Much online outrage stems not from genuine grievance but from the intoxicating feeling of moral superiority that comes from judging others. By declaring someone else immoral, you implicitly elevate your own standing, making anger a pleasurable and self-affirming mindset.
A brain study revealed people prefer anger over joy or love. Anger is neurologically rewarding because it offers a simple, powerful feeling of being right and morally superior, making it a potent tool for political mobilization and a driver of tribalism.
As you gain power, people are less likely to challenge you. This makes it easier to be brutally "honest" but requires conscious effort to remain kind, as you no longer receive the social feedback that moderates behavior.
David Brooks argues America's primary challenges are no longer purely political but rooted in a deeper moral and spiritual crisis. This shift demands longer-form, humanistic analysis to address widespread resentment and lack of purpose, issues that cannot be captured in daily news cycles.
In times of economic inequality, people are psychologically driven to vote for policies that punish a perceived enemy—like the wealthy or immigrants—rather than those that directly aid the poor. This powerful emotional desire for anger and a villain fuels populist leaders.
The psychological engine of populism is the zero-sum fallacy. It frames every issue—trade deficits, immigration, university admissions—as a win-lose scenario. This narrative, where one group's success must come at another's expense, fosters the protectionist and resentful attitudes that populist leaders exploit.
