In recent years there has been a growing demand for psychoanalytic perspectives on the underlying dynamics of political figures and social phenomena. Dr. Koritar’s compelling and timely paper exemplifies this trend. Rather than investigating the individual psyche, he explores the relationship between psyche and the culture of the populace (i.e., the polis), delving into the complex underlying dynamics of leaders' hypnotic influence and the creation of an alternate reality.

Dr. Koritar’s paper focuses on one leader—Donald Trump—while noting that other leaders such as Bolsonaro, Berlusconi, and Duterte have similar personality traits and persuasive abilities. It is an incontestable fact that Trump has been attuned to the issues that are meaningful to the polis and in a masterful way has used his persuasive abilities to sway public opinion. Trump has been labeled many things by the media, but they miss the point. Trump is neither a narcissist, nor a moron, nor a compulsive liar, although he portrays elements of these “diagnoses”. Dr. Koritar argues that Trump is a master hypnotist who has mesmerized a significant portion of the American populace to accept his hypnotic suggestions. Trump’s ‘genius’ lies in his ability to analyze the culture of the polis and use his insights to forcefully introject his message into individual psyches.

Learning objectives
1. To understand how hypnotic technique can influence large group dynamics.
2. To review the psychoanalytic literature on large group dynamics.
3. To appreciate how transgenerational transmission of trauma played a role in the January 6th coup attempt.