The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich

This influenced the irrationality of the 'people' and allowed (irrational) 'populistic' ideology to flourish, Reich argued:

Fear of revolt, as well as fear of sexuality, were thus ' anchored' in the 'character structure' of the masses (the majority). Hence, in adults, any rebellious and sexual impulses experienced would cause fundamental anxiety and – therefore, instead – social control is used to reduce anxiety. As children, members of the (German) proletariat learned from their parents to suppress nearly all sexual desire and – instead – expend the repressed energy into authoritarian idealism.

Reich argued that the reason why German fascism (i.e., Nazism) was chosen over communism was that of increased sexual repression in Germany – as opposed to the somewhat more liberal (post-revolutionary) Russia. The healthy alternative, he proposes, is a form of ' Workers Democracy', whereby those who 'do' the actual work make the decisions as to what, how and why. The question at the heart of Reich's book was this: why did the masses turn to authoritarianism even though it is clearly against their interests? In 1933, Reich set out to analyze 'the economic and ideological structure of (particularly) German society between 19' in this book. However, The Mass Psychology of Fascism was seen as being so critical of the communist regime in the Soviet Union that Reich was considered to be a liability to the KPD, and was subsequently kicked out of the party upon the book's publication in 1933. He joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) upon moving his psychoanalytic practice to Berlin in 1930.

Reich – originally from Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and practicing psychoanalysis and psychiatry in Vienna – joined the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) in 1928. Main articles: Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany

The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich