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The Mass Psychology of Fascism and the Authoritarian Personality [Durham, NC]
**This course is in-person only. There is no virtual component. Participants must be age 21+
Full Tuition: $340 — Sliding-scale tuition options are available in the drop-down enrollment menu for you to self-select. To pay in installments, choose to pay with PayPal or Klarna at check out.
Instructor: Margot Stillman | 5-Weeks | May 10-June 7 | 5:00-7:00 PM | 719 N Mangum St, Durham, NC
For something like a decade now we've been instructed to perceive contemporary American history as the "events leading up to" section of a chapter in a social studies textbook. Are we descending into authoritarianism? If not, why does it feel like we are? And if we are, can it be stopped?
In this class we're going to read two pivotal works in the study of political psychology: The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich and The Authoritarian Personality by Theodor Adorno, Else Frenkel-Brunswik, Daniel Levinson, and Nevitt Sanford. We'll examine how mass movements and authoritarian personalities form, evolve, and sustain themselves. Our touchstones will be Reich’s analysis of the emotional underpinnings of fascism—how repression and mass psychosis fuel authoritarian regimes—and Adorno’s groundbreaking empirical study linking personality traits to susceptibility to authoritarianism. Through close reading, contextualization in the present, and critical discussion, we'll develop a nuanced understanding of how ideology, personality, and social forces intertwine. The goal is to become equipped not only to critique authoritarian movements but also to understand how individual psychology shapes collective behavior.
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SLIDING SCALE TUITION
Full tuition is the cost per-student of running the class. If you choose a tier below full tuition, you are receiving a discount. If you choose to make a donation in addition to full tuition, you are helping to cover the cost for students who are not able to pay the full amount.
The mid-level tier is a discounted rate for people whose household income is at or above living wage but who have limited discretionary income.
The low-level tier and the full-scholarship tier are for people whose household income is below living wage or who need extra assistance to meet their needs.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Through our fundraising efforts, we are able to offer three full scholarships per class. The full-scholarship tier is a nonrefundable offering. Each student may only take one full-scholarship class at a time. Because our scholarship funding is limited, if a student selects multiple overlapping classes at the full-scholarship level, they will be disenrolled from all classes.
All sliding-scale and scholarship needs are self-assessed, and we will never request or require proof of need.
Please see our FAQ for more information, including installment plans, refund policy, and sick and inclement weather policy.
**This course is in-person only. There is no virtual component. Participants must be age 21+
Full Tuition: $340 — Sliding-scale tuition options are available in the drop-down enrollment menu for you to self-select. To pay in installments, choose to pay with PayPal or Klarna at check out.
Instructor: Margot Stillman | 5-Weeks | May 10-June 7 | 5:00-7:00 PM | 719 N Mangum St, Durham, NC
For something like a decade now we've been instructed to perceive contemporary American history as the "events leading up to" section of a chapter in a social studies textbook. Are we descending into authoritarianism? If not, why does it feel like we are? And if we are, can it be stopped?
In this class we're going to read two pivotal works in the study of political psychology: The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich and The Authoritarian Personality by Theodor Adorno, Else Frenkel-Brunswik, Daniel Levinson, and Nevitt Sanford. We'll examine how mass movements and authoritarian personalities form, evolve, and sustain themselves. Our touchstones will be Reich’s analysis of the emotional underpinnings of fascism—how repression and mass psychosis fuel authoritarian regimes—and Adorno’s groundbreaking empirical study linking personality traits to susceptibility to authoritarianism. Through close reading, contextualization in the present, and critical discussion, we'll develop a nuanced understanding of how ideology, personality, and social forces intertwine. The goal is to become equipped not only to critique authoritarian movements but also to understand how individual psychology shapes collective behavior.
—
SLIDING SCALE TUITION
Full tuition is the cost per-student of running the class. If you choose a tier below full tuition, you are receiving a discount. If you choose to make a donation in addition to full tuition, you are helping to cover the cost for students who are not able to pay the full amount.
The mid-level tier is a discounted rate for people whose household income is at or above living wage but who have limited discretionary income.
The low-level tier and the full-scholarship tier are for people whose household income is below living wage or who need extra assistance to meet their needs.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Through our fundraising efforts, we are able to offer three full scholarships per class. The full-scholarship tier is a nonrefundable offering. Each student may only take one full-scholarship class at a time. Because our scholarship funding is limited, if a student selects multiple overlapping classes at the full-scholarship level, they will be disenrolled from all classes.
All sliding-scale and scholarship needs are self-assessed, and we will never request or require proof of need.
Please see our FAQ for more information, including installment plans, refund policy, and sick and inclement weather policy.