Is MAGA a cult? It certainly has many cult characteristics: a scolding, charismatic figurehead; promises to reward the faithful and punish the wicked; and a focus on loyalty, information curation, and belonging. And like other cults, it has its share of individuals who have managed to escape the movement. And, frankly, if we are to have any hope of rescuing the planet from the grip of this terribly disruptive and destructive political movement, more captive members need to struggle free of the cult’s grip.
On that topic, I recently discovered leavingmaga.org, an organization purporting to “empower people to leave MAGA and tell their stories.” Of course, I consumed their first-person tales with deep fascination. For most of us, Donald Trump was clearly an untrustworthy and amoral conman totally unworthy of a second term as President of the USA. So it was illuminating to learn how and why these 32 individuals were originally captured by the aura of Trumpism — an aroma many of us would sooner characterize as a stench.
I’m transparent with my political bias, and it certainly affects my reading of these stories. But as a research scientist, I wanted to know whether any common themes emerged from these narratives, and whether I could confidently summarize the kind of person who could be seduced by such an obvious unscrupulous charlatan.
Disclaimer: I am not a psychologist. If any of my thoughts stray into realms in which I have no expertise, please call it out in the comments. Thanks.
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