The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
The True Believer: Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Movementsis a 1951 social psychology book by American writer Eric Hoffer that discusses the psychological causes of fanaticism.
The book analyzes and attempts to explain the motives of the various types of personalities that give rise to mass movements; why and how mass movements start, progress and end; and the similarities between them, whether religious, political, radical or reactionary. Hoffer argues that even when their stated goals or values differ mass movements are interchangeable, that adherents will often flip from one movement to another, and that the motivations for mass movements are interchangeable. Thus, religious, nationalist and social movements, whether radical or reactionary, tend to attract the same type of followers, behave in the same way and use the same tactics and rhetorical tools. As examples, the book often refers to Communism, Fascism, National Socialism, Christianity, Protestantism, and Islam.
The first and best-known of Hoffer's books, The True Believer has been published in 23 editions between 1951 and 2002.
Contents
[hide]
1 Summary
1.1 Part 1. The Appeal of Mass Movements
1.2 Part 2. The Potential Converts
1.3 Part 3. United Action and Self-Sacrifice
1.4 Part 4. Beginning and End
2 Reception
3 Bibliography
4 References
Summary[edit]
Part 1. The Appeal of Mass Movements[edit]
Hoffer argues that mass movements begin with a widespread "desire for change" from discontented people who place theirlocus of control outside their power and who also have no confidence in existing culture or traditions. Feeling their lives are "irredeemably spoiled" and believing there is no hope for advancement or satisfaction as an individual, true believers seek "self-renunciation".[1] Thus, such people are ripe to participate in a movement that offers the option of subsuming their individual lives in a larger collective. Leaders are vital in the growth of a mass movement, as outlined
The book analyzes and attempts to explain the motives of the various types of personalities that give rise to mass movements; why and how mass movements start, progress and end; and the similarities between them, whether religious, political, radical or reactionary. Hoffer argues that even when their stated goals or values differ mass movements are interchangeable, that adherents will often flip from one movement to another, and that the motivations for mass movements are interchangeable. Thus, religious, nationalist and social movements, whether radical or reactionary, tend to attract the same type of followers, behave in the same way and use the same tactics and rhetorical tools. As examples, the book often refers to Communism, Fascism, National Socialism, Christianity, Protestantism, and Islam.
The first and best-known of Hoffer's books, The True Believer has been published in 23 editions between 1951 and 2002.
Contents
[hide]
1 Summary
1.1 Part 1. The Appeal of Mass Movements
1.2 Part 2. The Potential Converts
1.3 Part 3. United Action and Self-Sacrifice
1.4 Part 4. Beginning and End
2 Reception
3 Bibliography
4 References
Summary[edit]
Part 1. The Appeal of Mass Movements[edit]
Hoffer argues that mass movements begin with a widespread "desire for change" from discontented people who place theirlocus of control outside their power and who also have no confidence in existing culture or traditions. Feeling their lives are "irredeemably spoiled" and believing there is no hope for advancement or satisfaction as an individual, true believers seek "self-renunciation".[1] Thus, such people are ripe to participate in a movement that offers the option of subsuming their individual lives in a larger collective. Leaders are vital in the growth of a mass movement, as outlined