THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN LEFTISM
But what is leftism? During the first half of the 20th century leftism could have been practically identified with socialism. Today the movement is fragmented and it is not clear who can properly be called a leftist. When we speak of leftists in this article we have in mind mainly socialists, collectivists, “politically correct” types, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the like. But not everyone who is associated with one of these movements is a leftist. What we are trying to get at in discussing leftism is not so much movement or an ideology as a psychological type, or rather a collection of related types. Thus, what we mean by “leftism” will emerge more clearly in the course of our discussion of leftist psychology.
The two psychological tendencies that underlie modern leftism we call “feelings of inferiority” and “over socialization”. Feelings of inferiority are characteristic of modern leftism as a whole, while over socialization is characteristic only of a certain segment of modern leftism; but this segment is highly influential.