"The past offers crucial lessons about the psychological effects of living under authoritarianism, a growing threat worldwide. In the former Soviet Union, citizens developed what historians called a "double life," maintaining a private self while displaying a public self loyal to the regime. A psychological split continues for many in Russia today, while some protest, speak out, and face negative repercussions for doing so."
"In Soviet Russia, the omnipresent danger of actively participating in society as their true selves forced many to mask a private self that harbored fears and thoughts unsafe to express publicly. People acted in accordance with state ideology to avoid scrutiny, while creating a culture of secrecy that sheltered vastly different views. Such psychological splitting was a strategy developed to survive totalitarian control and is used today by millions worldwide to maintain safety while living under oppressive regimes."
Authoritarian regimes rely on surveillance, fear, imprisonment, violence, and manipulation to silence critics and compel public conformity. Citizens often develop a split between a public persona and an authentic private self to avoid scrutiny and repression. Chronic suppression of true feelings produces anxiety, depression, dissociation, and identity confusion. Historical examples in the former Soviet Union show a widespread 'double life' in which private beliefs were concealed behind ostensible loyalty. Political movements can function as cults, using similar tactics to stifle dissent and maintain power. Mental health professionals must recognize the complex psychological strategies people use to survive authoritarian environments.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]