Theodore Kaczynski-Industrial Society and Its Future

as unimportant. For practical reasons we have to confine
our discussion to areas that have received insufficient pu-
blic attention or in which we have something new to say.
For example, since there are well-developed environmen-
Industrial Society and Its Future tal and wilderness movements, we have written very lit-
tle about environmental degradation or the destruction of
Theodore Kaczynski
wild nature, even though we consider these to be highly
important.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN LEFTISM
INTRODUCTION
6. (fr) Almost everyone will agree that we live in a dee-
1. (fr) The Industrial Revolution and its consequences
ply troubled society. One of the most widespread manifes-
have been a disaster for the human race. They have
tations of the craziness of our world is leftism, so a discus-
greatly increased the Iife-expectancy of those of us who
sion of the psychology of leftism can serve as an introduc-
live in “advanced” countries, but they have destabilized
tion to the discussion of the problems of modern society
society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human
in general.
beings to indignities, have led to widespread psycholo-
7. (fr) But what is leftism? During the first half of the
gical suffering (in the Third World to physical suffering
20th century leftism could have been practically identified
as well) and have inflicted severe damage on the natu-
with socialism. Today the movement is fragmented and it
ral world. The continued development of technology will
is not clear who can properly be called a leftist. When we
worsen the situation. It will certainly subject human being
speak of leftists in this article we have in mind mainly so-
to greater indignities and inflict greater damage on the
cialists, collectivists, “politically correct” types, feminists,
natural world, it will probably lead to greater social dis-
gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the
ruption and psychological suffering, and it may lead to in-
like. But not everyone who is associated with one of these
creased physical suffering even in “advanced” countries.
movements is a leftist. What we are trying to get at in dis-
2. (fr) The industrial-technological system may survive
cussing leftism is not so much movement or an ideology
or it may break down. If it survives, it MAY eventually
as a psychological type, or rather a collection of related
achieve a low level of physical and psychological sutfe-
types. Thus, what we mean by “leftism” will emerge more
ring, but only after passing through a long and very pain-
clearly in the course of our discussion of leftist psychology.
ful period of adjustment and only at the cost of perma-
(Also, see paragraphs 227-230.)
nently reducing human beings and many other living or-
8. (fr) Even so, our conception of leftism will remain a
ganisms to engineered products and mere cogs in the
good deal less clear than we would wish, but there doesn’t
social machine. Furthermore, if the system survives, the
seem to be any remedy for this. All we are trying to do
consequences will be inevitable: There is no way of re-
here is indicate in a rough and approximate way the two
forming or modifying the system so as to prevent it from
psychological tendencies that we believe are the main dri-
depriving people of dignity and autonomy.
ving force of modern leftism. We by no means claim to
3. (fr) If the system breaks down the consequences will
be telling the WHOLE truth about leftist psychology. Also,
still be very painful. But the bigger the system grows the
our discussion is meant to apply to modern leftism only.
more disastrous the results of its breakdown will be, so if
We leave open the question of the extent to which our
it is to break down it had best break down sooner rather
discussion could be applied to the leftists of the 19th and
than later.
early 20th centuries.
4. (fr) We therefore advocate a revolution against the
9. (fr) The two psychological tendencies that underlie
industrial system. This revolution may or may not make
modern leftism we call “feelings of inferiority” and “over-
use of violence; it may be sudden or it may be a relatively
socialization”. Feelings of inferiority are characteristic of
gradual process spanning a few decades. We can’t predict
modern leftism as a whole, while oversocialization is cha-
any of that. But we do outline in a very general way the
racteristic only of a certain segment of modern leftism;
measures that those who hate the industrial system should
but this segment is highly influential.
take in order to prepare the way for a revolution against
that form of society. This is not to be a POLITICAL revo-
lution. Its object will be to overthrow not governments
but the economic and technological basis of the present
FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY
society.
5. (fr) In this article we give attention to only some
10. (fr) By “feelings of inferiority” we mean not only in-
of the negative developments that have grown out of
feriority feelings in the strict sense but a whole spectrum
the industrial-technological system. Other such develop-
of related traits; low self-esteem, feelings of powerless-
ments we mention only briefly or ignore altogether. This
ness, depressive tendencies, defeatism, guilt, self-hatred,
does not mean that we regard these other developments
etc. We argue that modern leftists tend to have some such
1

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feelings (possibly more or less repressed) and that these
in primitive cultures, the leftist finds excuses for them,
feelings are decisive in determining the direction of mo-
or at best he GRUDGINGLY admits that they exist; whe-
dern leftism.
reas he ENTHUSIASTICALLY points out (and often greatly
11. (fr) When someone interprets as derogatory almost
exaggerates) these faults where they appear in Western
anything that is said about him (or about groups with
civilization. Thus it is clear that these faults are not the
whom he identifies) we conclude that he has inferiority
leftist’s real motive for hating America and the West. He
feelings or low self-esteem. This tendency is pronounced
hates America and the West because they are strong and
among minority rights activists, whether or not they be-
successful.
long to the minority groups whose rights they defend.
16. (fr) Words like “self-confidence”, “self-reliance”,
They are hypersensitive about the words used to designate
“initiative”, “enterprise”, “optimism”, etc., play little role
minorities and about anything that is said concerning mi-
in the liberal and leftist vocabulary. The leftist is anti-
norities. The terms “negro”, “oriental”, “handicapped” or
individualistic, pro-collectivist. He wants society to solve
“chick” for an African, an Asian, a disabled person or a
every one’s problems for them, satisfy everyone’s needs
woman originally had no derogatory connotation. “Broa-
for them, take care of them. He is not the sort of person
d” and “chick” were merely the feminine equivalents of
who has an inner sense of confidence in his ability to solve
“guy”, “dude” or “fellow”. The negative connotations have
his own problems and satisfy his own needs. The leftist is
been attached to these terms by the activists themselves.
antagohistic to the concept of competition because, deep
Some animal rights activists have gone so far as to reject
inside, he feels like a loser.
the word “pet” and insist on its replacement by “animal
17. (fr) Art forms that appeal to modern leftish intel-
companion”. Leftish anthropologists go to great lengths to
lectuals tend to focus on sordidness, defeat and despair,
avoid saying anything about primitive peoples that could
or else they take an orgiastic tone, throwing off rational
conceivably be interpreted as negative. They want to re-
control as if there were no hope of accomplishing anything
place the word “primitive” by “nonliterate”. They may
through rational calculation and all that was left was to
seem almost paranoid about anything that might suggest
immerse oneself in the sensations of the moment.
that any primitive culture is inferior to ours. (We do not
18. (fr) Modern leftish philosophers tend to dismiss rea-
mean to imply that primitive cultures ARE inferior to ours.
son, science, objective reality and to insist that everything
We merely point out the hyper sensitivity of leftish anthro-
is culturally relative. It is true that one can ask serious
pologists.)
questions about the foundations of scientific knowledge
12. (fr) Those who are most sensitive about “politically
and about how, if at all, the concept of objective reality
incorrect” terminology are not the average black ghetto-
can be defined. But it is obvious that modern leftish phi-
dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled per-
losophers are not simply cool-headed logicians systema-
son, but a minority of activists, many of whom do not
tically analyzing the foundations of knowledge. They are
even belong to any “oppressed” group but come from
deeply involved emotionally in their attack on truth and
privileged strata of society. Political correctness has its
reality. They attack these concepts because of their own
stronghold among university professors, who have secure
psychological needs. For one thing, their attack is an out-
employment with comfortable salaries, and the majority
let for hostility, and, to the extent that it is successful, it
of whom are heterosexual white males from middle- to
satisfies the drive for power. More importantly, the leftist
upper-middle-class families.
hates science and rationality because they classify certain
13. (fr) Many leftists have an intense identification with
beliefs as true (i.e., successful, superior) and other beliefs
the problems of groups that have an image of being weak
as false (i.e., failed, inferior). The leftist’s feelings of in-
(women), defeated (American Indians), repellent (homo-
feriority run so deep that he cannot tolerate any classifi-
sexuals) or otherwise inferior. The leftists themselves feel
cation of some things as successful or superior and other
that these groups are inferior. They would never admit to
things as failed or inferior. This also underlies the rejec-
themselves that they have such feelings, but it is preci-
tion by many leftists of the concept of mental illness and
sely because they do see these groups as inferior that they
of the utility of IQ tests. Leftists are antagonistic to genetic
identify with their problems. (We do not mean to suggest
explanations of human abilities or behavior because such
that women, Indians, etc. ARE inferior; we are only ma-
explanations tend to make some persons appear superior
king a point about leftist psychology.)
or inferior to others. Leftists prefer to give society the cre-
14. (fr) Feminists are desperately anxious to prove that
dit or blame for an individual’s ability or lack of it. Thus
women are as strong and as capable as men. Clearly they
if a person is “inferior” it is not his fault, but society’s,
are nagged by a fear that women may NOT be as strong
because he has not been brought up properly.
and as capable as men.
19. (fr) The leftist is not typically the kind of person
15. (fr) Leftists tend to hate anything that has an image
whose feelings of inferiority make him a braggart, an ego-
of being strong, good and successful. They hate America,
tist, a bully, a self-promoter, a ruthless competitor. This
they hate Western civilization, they hate white males, they
kind of person has not wholly lost faith in himself. He
hate rationality. The reasons that leftists give for hating
has a deficit in his sense of power and self-worth, but he
the West, etc. clearly do not correspond with their real
can still conceive of himself as having the capacity to be
motives. They SAY they hate the West because it is war-
strong, and his efforts to make himself strong produce his
like, imperialistic, sexist, ethnocentric and so forth, but
unpleasant behavior. [1] But the leftist is too far gone for
where these same faults appear in socialist countries or
that. His feelings of inferiority are so ingrained that he
2

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cannot conceive of himself as individually strong and va-
to avoid feelings of guilt, they continually have to deceive
luable. Hence the collectivism of the leftist. He can feel
themselves about their own motives and find moral ex-
strong only as a member of a large organization or a mass
planations for feelings and actions that in reality have a
movement with which he identifies himself.
nonmoral origin. We use the term “oversocialized” to des-
20. (fr) Notice the masochistic tendency of leftist tac-
cribe such people. [2]
tics. Leftists protest by lying down in front of vehicles, they
26. (fr) Oversocialization can lead to low self-esteem,
intentionally provoke police or racists to abuse them, etc.
a sense of powerlessness, defeatism, guilt, etc. One of
These tactics may often be effective, but many leftists use
the most important means by which our society socializes
them not as a means to an end but because they PREFER
children is by making them feel ashamed of behavior or
masochistic tactics. Self-hatred is a leftist trait.
speech that is contrary to society’s expectations. If this is
21. (fr) Leftists may claim that their activism is moti-
overdone, or if a particular child is especially susceptible
vated by compassion or by moral principles, and moral
to such feelings, he ends by feeling ashamed of HIMSELF.
principle does play a role for the leftist of the oversocia-
Moreover the thought and the behavior of the oversocia-
lized type. But compassion and moral principle cannot be
lized person are more restricted by society’s expectations
the main motives for leftist activism. Hostility is too pro-
than are those of the lightly socialized person. The majo-
minent a component of leftist behavior; so is the drive for
rity of people engage in a significant amount of naughty
power. Moreover, much leftist behavior is not rationally
behavior. They lie, they commit petty thefts, they break
calculated to be of benefit to the people whom the leftists
traffic laws, they goof off at work, they hate someone, they
claim to be trying to help. For example, if one believes that
say spiteful things or they use some underhanded trick to
affirmative action is good for black people, does it make
get ahead of the other guy. The oversocialized person can-
sense to demand affirmative action in hostile or dogmatic
not do these things, or if he does do them he generates
terms? Obviously it would be more productive to take a
in himself a sense of shame and self-hatred. The over-
diplomatic and conciliatory approach that would make at
socialized person cannot even experience, without guilt,
least verbal and symbolic concessions to white people who
thoughts or feelings that are contrary to the accepted mo-
think that affirmative action discriminates against them.
rality; he cannot think “unclean” thoughts. And socializa-
But leftist activists do not take such an approach because
tion is not just a matter of morality; we are socialized to
it would not satisfy their emotional needs. Helping black
conform to many norms of behavior that do not fall under
people is not their real goal. Instead, race problems serve
the heading of morality. Thus the oversocialized person is
as an excuse for them to express their own hostility and
kept on a psychological leash and spends his life running
frustrated need for power. In doing so they actually harm
on rails that society has laid down for him. In many over-
black people, because the activists’ hostile attitude toward
socialized people this results in a sense of constraint and
the white majority tends to intensify race hatred.
powerlessness that can be a severe hardship. We suggest
22. (fr) If our society had no social problems at all, the
that oversocialization is among the more serious cruelties
leftists would have to INVENT problems in order to pro-
that human being inflict on one another.
vide themselves with an excuse for making a fuss.
27. (fr) We argue that a very important and influen-
23. (fr) We emphasize that the foregoing does not pre-
tial segment of the modern left is oversocialized and that
tend to be an accurate description of everyone who might
their oversocialization is of great importance in determi-
be considered a leftist. It is only a rough indication of a
ning the direction of modern leftism. Leftists of the over-
general tendency of leftism.
socialized type tend to be intellectuals or members of the
upper-middle class. Notice that university intellectuals [3]
constitute the most highly socialized segment of our so-
ciety and also the most leftwing segment.
OVERSOCIALIZATION
28. (fr) The leftist of the oversocialized type tries to
get off his psychological leash and assert his autonomy
24. (fr) Psychologists use the term “socialization” to de-
by rebelling. But usually he is not strong enough to rebel
signate the process by which children are trained to think
against the most basic values of society. Generally spea-
and act as society demands. A person is said to be well
king, the goals of today’s leftists are NOT in conflict with
socialized if he believes in and obeys the moral code of
the accepted morality. On the contrary, the left takes an
his society and fits in well as a functioning part of that
accepted moral principle, adopts it as its own, and then
society. It may seem senseless to say that many leftists are
accuses mainstream society of violating that principle.
over-socialized, since the leftist is perceived as a rebel. Ne-
Examples: racial equality, equality of the sexes, helping
vertheless, the position can be defended. Many leftists are
poor people, peace as opposed to war, nonviolence gene-
not such rebels as they seem.
rally, freedom of expression, kindness to animals. More
25. (fr) The moral code of our society is so demanding
fundamentally, the duty of the individual to serve society
that no one can think, feel and act in a completely moral
and the duty of society to take care of the individual. All
way. For example, we are not supposed to hate anyone, yet
these have been deeply rooted values of our society (or
almost everyone hates somebody at some time or other,
at least of its middle and upper classes [4] for a long
whether he admits it to himself or not. Some people are
time. These values are explicitly or implicitly expressed
so highly socialized that the attempt to think, feel and
or presupposed in most of the material presented to us by
act morally imposes a severe burden on them. In order
the mainstream communications media and the educatio-
3

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nal system. Leftists, especially those of the oversocialized
32. (fr) The problems of the leftist are indicative of the
type, usually do not rebel against these principles but jus-
problems of our society as a whole. Low self-esteem, de-
tify their hostility to society by claiming (with some de-
pressive tendencies and defeatism are not restricted to the
gree of truth) that society is not living up to these prin-
left. Though they are especially noticeable in the left, they
ciples.
are widespread in our society. And today’s society tries to
29. (fr) Here is an illustration of the way in which
socialize us to a greater extent than any previous society.
the oversocialized leftist shows his real attachment to the
We are even told by experts how to eat, how to exercise,
conventional attitudes of our society while pretending to
how to make love, how to raise our kids and so forth.
be in rebellion aginst it. Many leftists push for affirmative
action, for moving black people into high-prestige jobs,
for improved education in black schools and more money
THE POWER PROCESS
for such schools; the way of life of the black “underclass”
they regard as a social disgrace. They want to integrate
33. (fr) Human beings have a need (probably based in
the black man into the system, make him a business execu-
biology) for something that we will call the “power pro-
tive, a lawyer, a scientist just like upper-middle-class white
cess.” This is closely related to the need for power (which
people. The leftists will reply that the last thing they want
is widely recognized) but is not quite the same thing. The
is to make the black man into a copy of the white man; ins-
power process has four elements. The three most clear-
tead, they want to preserve African American culture. But
cut of these we call goal, effort and attainment of goal.
in what does this preservation of African American culture
(Everyone needs to have goals whose attainment requires
consist? It can hardly consist in anything more than ea-
effort, and needs to succeed in attaining at least some of
ting black-style food, listening to black-style music, wea-
his goals.) The fourth element is more difficult to define
ring black-style clothing and going to a black-style church
and may not be necessary for everyone. We call it auto-
or mosque. In other words, it can express itself only in su-
nomy and will discuss it later (paragraphs 42-44).
perficial matters. In all ESSENTIAL respects most leftists
34. (fr) Consider the hypothetical case of a man who
of the oversocialized type want to make the black man
can have anything he wants just by wishing for it. Such
conform to white, middle-class ideals. They want to make
a man has power, but he will develop serious psychologi-
him study technical subjects, become an executive or a
cal problems. At first he will have a lot of fun, but by and
scientist, spend his life climbing the status ladder to prove
by he will become acutely bored and demoralized. Even-
that black people are as good as white. They want to make
tually he may become clinically depressed. History shows
black fathers “responsible,” they want black gangs to be-
that leisured aristocracies tend to become decadent. This
come nonviolent, etc. But these are exactly the values of
is not true of fighting aristocracies that have to struggle
the industrial- technological system. The system couldn’t
to maintain their power. But leisured, secure aristocracies
care less what kind of music a man listens to, what kind
that have no need to exert themselves usually become bo-
of clothes he wears or what religion he believes in as long
red, hedonistic and demoralized, even though they have
as he studies in school, holds a respectable job, climbs the
power. This shows that power is not enough. One must
status ladder, is a “responsible” parent, is nonviolent and
have goals toward which to exercise one’s power.
so forth. In effect, however much he may deny it, the over-
35. (fr) Everyone has goals; if nothing else, to obtain
socialized leftist wants to integrate the black man into the
the physical necessities of life: food, water and whatever
system and make him adopt its values.
clothing and shelter are made necessary by the climate.
30. (fr) We certainly do not claim that leftists, even of
But the leisured aristocrat obtains these things without
the oversocialized type, NEVER rebel against the funda-
effort. Hence his boredom and demoralization.
mental values of our society. Clearly they sometimes do.
36. (fr) Nonattainment of important goals results in
Some oversocialized leftists have gone so far as to rebel
death if the goals are physical necessities, and in frus-
against one of modern society’s most important principles
tration if nonattainment of the goals is compatible with
by engaging in physical violence. By their own account,
survival. Consistent failure to attain goals throughout life
violence is for them a form of “liberation.” In other words,
results in defeatism, low self-esteem or depression.
by committing violence they break through the psycholo-
37. (fr) Thus, in order to avoid serious psychological
gical restraints that have been trained into them. Because
problems, a human being needs goals whose attainment
they are oversocialized these restraints have been more
requires effort, and he must have a reasonable rate of suc-
confining for them than for others; hence their need to
cess in attaining his goals.
break free of them. But they usually justify their rebellion
in terms of mainstream values. If they engage in violence
they claim to be fighting against racism or the like.
31. (fr) We realize that many objections could be raised
SURROGATE ACTIVITIES
to the foregoing thumbnail sketch of leftist psychology.
The real situation is complex, and anything like a com-
38. (fr) But not every leisured aristocrat becomes bo-
plete description of it would take several volumes even if
red and demoralized. For example, the emperor Hirohito,
the necessary data were available. We claim only to have
instead of sinking into decadent hedonism, devoted him-
indicated very roughly the two most important tendencies
self to marine biology, a field in which he became distin-
in the psychology of modern leftism.
guished. When people do not have to exert themselves
4

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to satisfy their physical needs they often set up artifi-
motivated in part by a drive for prestige, artistic creation
cial goals for themselves. In many cases they then pur-
by a need to express feelings, militant social activism by
sue these goals with the same energy and emotional in-
hostility. But for most people who pursue them, these ac-
volvement that they otherwise would have put into the
tivities are in large part surrogate activities. For example,
search for physical necessities. Thus the aristocrats of the
the majority of scientists will probably agree that the “ful-
Roman Empire had their literary pretensions; many Euro-
fillment” they get from their work is more important than
pean aristocrats a few centuries ago invested tremendous
the money and prestige they earn.
time and energy in hunting, though they certainly didn’t
41. (fr) For many if not most people, surrogate activities
need the meat; other aristocracies have competed for sta-
are less satisfying than the pursuit of real goals (that is,
tus through elaborate displays of wealth; and a few aris-
goals that people would want to attain even if their need
tocrats, like Hirohito, have turned to science.
for the power process were already fulfilled). One indica-
39. (fr) We use the term “surrogate activity” to desi-
tion of this is the fact that, in many or most cases, people
gnate an activity that is directed toward an artificial goal
who are deeply involved in surrogate activities are never
that people set up for themselves merely in order to have
satisfied, never at rest. Thus the money-maker constantly
some goal to work toward, or let us say, merely for the
strives for more and more wealth. The scientist no soo-
qake of the “fulfillment” that they get from pursuing the
ner solves one problem than he moves on to the next. The
goal. Here is a rule of thumb for the identification of sur-
long-distance runner drives himself to run always farther
rogate activities. Given a person who devotes much time
and faster. Many people who pursue surrogate activities
and energy to the pursuit of goal X, ask yourself this: If
will say that they get far more fulfillment from these ac-
he had to devote most of his time and energy to satisfying
tivities than they do from the “mundane” business of sa-
his biological needs, and if that effort required him to use
tisfying their biological needs, but that is because in our
his physical and mental faculties in a varied and interes-
society the effort needed to satisfy the biological needs
ting way, would he feel seriously deprived because he did
has been reduced to triviality. More importantly, in our
not attain goal X? If the answer is no, then the person’s
society people do not satisfy their biological needs AUTO-
pursuit of goal X is a surrogate activity. Hirohito’s studies
NOMOUSLY but by functioning as parts of an immense
in marine biology clearly constituted a surrogate activity,
social machine. In contrast, people generally have a great
since it is pretty certain that if Hirohito had had to spend
deal of autonomy in pursuing their surrogate activities.
his time working at interesting non-scientific tasks in or-
der to obtain the necessities of life, he would not have
felt deprived because he didn’t know all about the ana-
tomy and life-cycles of marine animals. On the other hand
AUTONOMY
the pursuit of sex and love (for example) is not a surro-
gate activity, because most people, even if their existence
were otherwise satisfactory, would feel deprived if they
42. (fr) Autonomy as a part of the power process may
passed their lives without ever having a relationship with
not be necessary for every individual. But most people
a member of the opposite sex. (But pursuit of an exces-
need a greater or lesser degree of autonomy in working
sive amount of sex, more than one really needs, can be a
toward their goals. Their efforts must be undertaken on
surrogate activity.)
their own initiative and must be under their own direc-
40. (fr) In modern industrial society only minimal effort
tion and control. Yet most people do not have to exert this
is necessary to satisfy one’s physical needs. It is enough
initiative, direction and control as single individuals. It is
to go through a training program to acquire some petty
usually enough to act as a member of a SMALL group.
technical skill, then come to work on time and exert the
Thus if half a dozen people discuss a goal among them-
very modest effort needed to hold a job. The only requi-
selves and make a successful joint effort to attain that
rements are a moderate amount of intelligence and, most
goal, their need for the power process will be served. But
of all, simple OBEDIENCE. If one has those, society takes
if they work under rigid orders handed down from above
care of one from cradle to grave. (Yes, there is an under-
that leave them no room for autonomous decision and ini-
class that cannot take the physical necessities for granted,
tiative, then their need for the power process will not be
but we are speaking here of mainstream society.) Thus it
served. The same is true when decisions are made on a
is not surprising that modern society is full of surrogate
collective basis if the group making the collective decision
activities. These include scientific work, athletic achieve-
is so large that the role of each individual is insignificant.
ment, humanitarian work, artistic and literary creation,
[5]
climbing the corporate ladder, acquisition of money and
43. (fr) It is true that some individuals seem to have lit-
material goods far beyond the point at which they cease
tle need for autonomy. Either their drive for power is weak
to give any additional physical satisfaction, and social ac-
or they satisfy it by identifying themselves with some po-
tivism when it addresses issues that are not important for
werful organization to which they belong. And then there
the activist personally, as in the case of white activists who
are unthinking, animal types who seem to be satisfied
work for the rights of nonwhite minorities. These are not
with a purely physical sense of power (the good combat
always PURE surrogate activities, since for many people
soldier, who gets his sense of power by developing fighting
they may be motivated in part by needs other than the
skills that he is quite content to use in blind obedience to
need to have some goal to pursue. Scientific work may be
his superiors).
5

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44. (fr) But for most people it is through the power pro-
a variety of noise-making devices: power mowers, radios,
cess having a goal, making an AUTONOMOUS effort and
motorcycles, etc. If the use of these devices is unrestric-
attaining the goal — that self-esteem, self-confidence and
ted, people who want peace and quiet are frustrated by
a sense of power are acquired. When one does not have
the noise. If their use is restricted, people who use the
adequate opportunity to go through the power process the
devices are frustrated by the regulations. But if these ma-
consequences are (depending on the individual and on
chines had never been invented there would have been no
the way the power process is disrupted) boredom, demo-
conflict and no frustration generated by them.)
ralization, low self-esteem, inferiority feelings, defeatism,
49. (fr) For primitive societies the natural world (which
depression, anxiety, guilt, frustration, hostility, spouse or
usually changes only slowly) provided a stable framework
child abuse, insatiable hedonism, abnormal sexual beha-
and therefore a sense of security. In the modern world it
vior, sleep disorders, eating disorders. etc. [6]
is human society that dominates nature rather than the
other way around, and modern society changes very ra-
pidly owing to technological change. Thus there is no
stable framework.
SOURCES OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
50. (fr) The conservatives are fools: They whine about
the decay of traditional values, yet they enthusiastically
45. (fr) Any of the foregoing symptoms can occur in any
support technological progress and economic growth. Ap-
society, but in modern industrial society they are present
parently it never occurs to them that you can’t make ra-
on a massive scale. We aren’t the first to mention that the
pid, drastic changes in the technology and the economy
world today seems to be going crazy. This sort of thing is
of a society without causing rapid changes in all other as-
not normal for human societies. There is good reason to
pects of the society as well, and that such rapid changes
believe that primitive man suffered from less stress and
inevitably break down traditional values.
frustration and was better satisfied with his way of life
51. (fr) The breakdown of traditional values to some
than modern man is. It is true that not all was sweet-
extent implies the breakdown of the bonds that hold toge-
ness and light in primitive societies. Abuse of women was
ther traditional small-scale social groups. The disintegra-
common among the Australian aborigines, transexuality
tion of small-scale social groups is also promoted by the
was fairly common among some of the American Indian
fact that modern conditions often require or tempt indi-
tribes. But it does appear that GENERALLY SPEAKING the
viduals to move to new locations, separating themselves
kinds of problems that we have listed in the preceding pa-
from their communities. Beyond that, a technological so-
ragraph were far less common among primitive peoples
ciety HAS TO weaken family ties and local communities
than they are in modern society.
if it is to function efficiently. In modern society an indi-
46. (fr) We attribute the social and psychological pro-
vidual’s loyalty must be first to the system and only se-
blems of modern society to the fact that that society re-
condarily to a smallscale community, because if the in-
quires people to live under conditions radically different
ternal loyalties of small-scale communities were stronger
from those under which the human race evolved and to
than loyalty to the system, such communities would pur-
behave in ways that conflict with the patterns of beha-
sue their own advantage at the expense of the system.
vior that the human race developed while living under
52. (fr) Suppose that a public official or a corpora-
the earlier conditions. It is clear from what we have al-
tion executive appoints his cousin, his friend or his co-
ready written that we consider lack of opportunity to pro-
religionist to a position rather than appointing the per-
perly experience the power process as the most important
son best qualified for the job. He has permitted personal
of the abnormal conditions to which modern society sub-
loyalty to supersede his loyalty to the system, and that is
jects people. But it is not the only one. Before dealing with
“nepotism” or “discrimination,” both of which are terrible
disruption of the power process as a source of social pro-
sins in modern society. Would-be industrial societies that
blems we will discuss some of the other sources.
have done a poor job of subordinating personal or local
47. (fr) Among the abnormal conditions present in mo-
loyalties to loyalty to the system are usually very ineffi-
dern industrial society are excessive density of population,
cient. (Look at Latin America.) Thus an advanced indus-
isolation of man from nature, excessive rapidity of social
trial society can tolerate only those small-scale communi-
change and the breakdown of natural small-scale commu-
ties that are emasculated, tamed and made into tools of
nities such as the extended family, the village or the tribe.
the system. [7]
48. (fr) It is well known that crowding increases stress
53. (fr) Crowding, rapid change and the breakdown of
and aggression. The degree of crowding that exists today
communities have been widely recognized as sources of
and the isolation of man from nature are consequences
social problems. But we do not believe tbey are enough
of technological progress. All pre-industrial societies were
to account for the extent of the problems that are seen
predominantly rural. The Industrial Revolution vastly in-
today.
creased the size of cities and the proportion of the popu-
54. (fr) A few pre-industrial cities were very large and
lation that lives in them, and modern agricultural techno-
crowded, yet their inhabitants do not seem to have suf-
logy has made it possible for the Earth to support a far
fered from psychological problems to the same extent as
denser population than it ever did before. (Also, techno-
modern man. In America today there still are uncrowded
logy exacerbates the effects of crowding because it puts in-
rural areas, and we find there the same problems as in ur-
creased disruptive powers in people’s hands. For example,
ban areas, though the problems tend to be less acute in
6

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the rural areas. Thus crowding does not seem to be the
process of satisfying the drives of the second group. The
decisive factor.
more drives there are in the third group, the more there is
55. (fr) On the growing edge of the American frontier
frustration, anger, eventually defeatism, depression, etc.
during the 19th century, the mobility of the population
60. (fr) In modern industrial society natural human
probably broke down extended families and small-scale
drives tend to be pushed into the first and third groups,
social groups to at least the same extent as these are bro-
and the second group tends to consist increasingly of arti-
ken down today. In fact, many nuclear families lived by
ficially created drives.
choice in such isolation, having no neighbors within seve-
61. (fr) In primitive societies, physical necessities gene-
ral miles, that they belonged to no community at all, yet
rally fall into group 2: They can be obtained, but only at
they do not seem to have developed problems as a result.
the cost of serious effort. But modern society tends to gua-
56. (fr) Furthermore, change in American frontier so-
ranty the physical necessities to everyone [9] in exchange
ciety was very rapid and deep. A man might be born and
for only minimal effort, hence physical needs are pushed
raised in a log cabin, outside the reach of law and order
into group 1. (There may be disagreement about whether
and fed largely on wild meat; and by the time he arrived
the effort needed to hold a job is “minimal”; but usually,
at old age he might be working at a regular job and living
in lower- to middle-level jobs, whatever effort is required
in an ordered community with effective law enforcement.
is merely that of OBEDIENCE. You sit or stand where you
This was a deeper change than that which typically occurs
are told to sit or stand and do what you are told to do in
in the life of a modern individual, yet it does not seem
the way you are told to do it. Seldom do you have to exert
to have led to psychological problems. In fact, 19th cen-
yourself seriously, and in any case you have hardly any
tury American society had an optimistic and self-confident
autonomy in work, so that the need for the power process
tone, quite unlike that of today’s society. [8]
is not well served.)
57. (fr) The difference, we argue, is that modern man
62. (fr) Social needs, such as sex, love and status, of-
has the sense (largely justified) that change is IMPOSED
ten remain in group 2 in modern society, depending on
on him, whereas the 19th century frontiersman had the
the situation of the individual. [10] But, except for people
sense (also largely justified) that he created change him-
who have a particularly strong drive for status, the effort
self, by his own choice. Thus a pioneer settled on a piece of
required to fulfill the social drives is insufficient to satisfy
land of his own choosing and made it into a farm through
adequately the need for the power process.
his own effort. In those days an entire county might have
63. (fr) So certain artificial needs have been created
only a couple of hundred inhabitants and was a far more
that fall into group 2, hence serve the need for the power
isolated and autonomous entity than a modern county is.
process. Advertising and marketing techniques have been
Hence the pioneer farmer participated as a member of a
developed that make many people feel they need things
relatively small group in the creation of a new, ordered
that their grandparents never desired or even dreamed of.
community. One may well question whether the creation
It requires serious effort to earn enough money to satisfy
of this community was an improvement, but at any rate it
these artificial needs, hence they fall into group 2. (But see
satisfied the pioneer’s need for the power process.
paragraphs 80-82.) Modern man must satisfy his need for
58. (fr) It would be possible to give other examples of
the power process largely through pursuit of the artificial
societies in which there has been rapid change and/or lack
needs created by the advertising and marketing industry
of close community ties without the kind of massive beha-
[11], and through surrogate activities.
vioral aberration that is seen in today’s industrial society.
64. (fr) It seems that for many people, maybe the ma-
We contend that the most important cause of social and
jority, these artificial forms of the power process are in-
psychological problems in modern society is the fact that
sufficient. A theme that appears repeatediy in the writings
people have insufficient opportunity to go through the po-
of the social critics of the second half of the 20th century
wer process in a normal way. We don’t mean to say that
is the sense of purposelessness that afflicts many people
modern society is the only one in which the power process
in modern society. (This purposelessness is often called by
has been disrupted. Probably most if not all civilized so-
other names such as “anomic” or “middle-class vacuity.”)
cieties have interfered with the power process to a greater
We suggest that the so-called “identity crisis” is actually
or lesser extent. But in modern industrial society the pro-
a search for a sense of purpose, often for commitment to
blem has become particularly acute. Leftism, at least in its
a suitable surrogate activity. It may be that existentialism
recent (mid- to late-20th century) form, is in part a symp-
is in large part a response to the purposelessness of mo-
tom of deprivation with respect to the power process.
dern life. [12] Very widespread in modern society is the
search for “fulfillment.” But we think that for the majority
of people an activity whose main goal is fulfillment (that
DISRUPTION OF THE POWER PROCESS IN MODERN
is, a surrogate activity) does not bring completely satis-
SOCIETY
factory fulfillment. In other words, it does not fully satisfy
the need for the power process. (See paragraph 41.) That
59. (fr) We divide human drives into three groups: (1)
need can be fully satisfied only through activities that have
those drives that can be satisfied with minimal effort; (2)
some external goal, such as physical necessities, sex, love,
those that can be satisfied but only at the cost of serious ef-
status, revenge, etc.
fort; (3) those that cannot be adequately satisfied no mat-
65. (fr) Moreover, where goals are pursued through ear-
ter how much effort one makes. The power process is the
ning money, climbing the status ladder or functioning as
7

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part of the system in some other way, most people are not
FEEL secure is not so much objective security as a sense
in a position to pursue their goals AUTONOMOUSLY. Most
of confidence in our ability to take care of ourselves. Pri-
workers are someone else’s employee and, as we pointed
mitive man, threatened by a fierce animal or by hunger,
out in paragraph 61, must spend their days doing what
can fight in self-defense or travel in search of food. He
they are told to do in the way they are told to do it. Even
has no certainty of success in these efforts, but he is by
people who are in business for themselves have only limi-
no means helpless against the things that threaten him.
ted autonomy. It is a chronic complaint of small-business
The modern individual on the other hand is threatened
persons and entrepreneurs that their hands are tied by
by many things against which he is helpless: nuclear acci-
excessive government regulation. Some of these regula-
dents, carcinogens in food, environmental pollution, war,
tions are doubtless unnecessary, but for the most part go-
increasing taxes, invasion of his privacy by large organi-
vernment regulations are essential and inevitable parts of
zations, nationwide social or economic phenomena that
our extremely complex society. A large portion of small
may disrupt his way of life.
business today operates on the franchise system. It was
69. (fr) It is true that primitive man is powerless against
reported in the Wall Street Journal a few years ago that
some of the things that threaten him; disease for example.
many of the franchise-granting companies require appli-
But he can accept the risk of disease stoically. It is part of
cants for franchises to take a personality test that is de-
the nature of things, it is no one’s fault, unless it is the fault
signed to EXCLUDE those who have creativity and initia-
of some imaginary, impersonal demon. But threats to the
tive, because such persons are not sufficiently docile to go
modern individual tend to be MAN-MADE. They are not
along obediently with the franchise system. This excludes
the results of chance but are IMPOSED on him by other
from small business many of the people who most need
persons whose decisions he, as an individual, is unable
autonomy.
to influence. Consequently he feels frustrated, humiliated
66. (fr) Today people live more by virtue of what the
and angry.
system does FOR them or TO them than by virtue of what
70. (fr) Thus primitive man for the most part has his
they do for themselves. And what they do for themselves
security in his own hands (either as an individual or as a
is done more and more along channels laid down by the
member of a SMALL group) whereas the security of mo-
system. Opportunities tend to be those that the system
dern man is in the hands of persons or organizations that
provides, the opportunities must be exploited in accord
are too remote or too large for him to be able personally to
with rules and regulations [13], and techniques prescri-
influence them. So modern man’s drive for security tends
bed by experts must be followed if there is to be a chance
to fall into groups 1 and 3; in some areas (food, shelter
of success.
etc.) his security is assured at the cost of only trivial ef-
67. (fr) Thus the power process is disrupted in our so-
fort, whereas in other areas he CANNOT attain security.
ciety through a deficiency of real goals and a deficiency
(The foregoing greatly simplifies the real situation, but it
of autonomy in the pursuit of goals. But it is also disrup-
does indicate in a rough, general way how the condition
ted because of those human drives that fall into group
of modern man differs from that of primitive man.)
3: the drives that one cannot adequately satisfy no mat-
71. (fr) People have many transitory drives or impulses
ter how much effort one makes. One of these drives is
that are necessarily frustrated in modern life, hence fall
the need for security. Our lives depend on decisions made
into group 3. One may become angry, but modern so-
by other people; we have no control over these decisions
ciety cannot permit fighting. In many situations it does
and usually we do not even know the people who make
not even permit verbal aggression. When going somew-
them. (“We live in a world in which relatively few people
here one may be in a hurry, or one may be in a mood to
— maybe 500 or 1,000 make the important decisions” —
travel slowly, but one generally has no choice but to move
Philip B. Heymann of Harvard Law School, quoted by An-
with the flow of traffic and obey the traffic signals. One
thony Lewis, New York Times, April 21,1995.) Our lives
may want to do one’s work in a different way, but usually
depend on whether safety standards at a nuclear power
one can work only according to the rules laid down by
plant are properly maintained; on how much pesticide is
one’s employer. In many other ways as well, modern man
allowed to get into our food or how much pollution into
is strapped down by a network of rules and regulations
our air; on how skillful (or incompetent) our doctor is;
(explicit or implicit) that frustrate many of his impulses
whether we lose or get a job may depend on decisions
and thus interfere with the power process. Most of these
made by government economists or corporation execu-
regulations cannot be dispensed with, because they are
tives; and so forth. Most individuals are not in a position
necessary for the functioning of industrial society.
to secure themselves against these threats to more [than]
72. (fr) Modern society is in certain respects extremely
a very limited extent. The individual’s search for security
permissive. In matters that are irrelevant to the functio-
is therefore frustrated, which leads to a sense of power-
ning of the system we can generally do what we please.
lessness.
We can believe in any religion (as long as it does not en-
68. (fr) It may be objected that primitive man is phy-
courage behavior that is dangerous to the system). We can
sically less secure than modern man, as is shown by his
go to bed with anyone we like (as long as we practice
shorter life expectancy; hence modern man suffers from
“safe sex”). We can do anything we like as long as it is
less, not more than the amount of insecurity that is nor-
UNIMPORTANT. But in all IMPORTANT matters the sys-
mal for human beings. But psychological security does not
tem tends increasingly to regulate our behavior.
closely correspond with physical security. What makes us
73. (fr) Behavior is regulated not only through expli-
8

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cit rules and not only by the government. Control is often
ring his life who is best prepared to accept the end of that
exercised through indirect coercion or through psycholo-
life.
gical pressure or manipulation, and by organizations other
76. (fr) In response to the arguments of this section so-
than the government, or by the system as a whole. Most
meone will say, “Society must find a way to give people the
large organizations use some form of propaganda [14]
opportunity to go through the power process.” For such
to manipulate public attitudes or behavior. Propaganda is
people the value of the opportunity is destroyed by the
not limited to “commercials” and advertisements, and so-
very fact that society gives it to them. What they need is
metimes it is not even consciously intended as propaganda
to find or make their own opportunities. As long as the
by the people who make it. For instance, the content of
system GIVES them their opportunities it still has them on
entertainment programming is a powerful form of propa-
a leash. To attain autonomy they must get off that leash.
ganda. An example of indirect coercion: There is no law
that says we have to go to work every day and follow our
employer’s orders. Legally there is nothing to prevent us
from going to live in the wild like primitive people or from
HOW SOME PEOPLE ADJUST
going into business for ourselves. But in practice there is
very little wild country left, and there is room in the eco-
nomy for only a limited number of small business owners.
77. (fr) Not everyone in industrial-technological society
Hence most of us can survive only as someone else’s em-
suffers from psychological problems. Some people even
ployee.
profess to be quite satisfied with society as it is. We now
74. (fr) We suggest that modern man’s obsession with
discuss some of the reasons why people differ so greatly
longevity, and with maintaining physical vigor and sexual
in their response to modern society.
attractiveness to an advanced age, is a symptom of un-
78. (fr) First, there doubtless are differences in the
fulfillment resulting from deprivation with respect to the
strength of the drive for power. Individuals with a weak
power process. The “mid-lffe crisis” also is such a symp-
drive for power may have relatively little need to go
tom. So is the lack of interest in having children that is
through the power process, or at least relatively little need
fairly common in modern society but almost unheard-of
for autonomy in the power process. These are docile types
in primitive societies.
who would have been happy as plantation darkies in the
75. (fr) In primitive societies life is a succession of
Old South. (We don’t mean to sneer at the “plantation dar-
stages. The needs and purposes of one stage having been
kies” of the Old South. To their credit, most of the slaves
fulfilled, there is no particular reluctance about passing on
were NOT content with their servitude. We do sneer at
to the next stage. A young man goes through the power
people who ARE content with servitude.)
process by becoming a hunter, hunting not for sport or for
79. (fr) Some people may have some exceptional drive,
fulfillment but to get meat that is necessary for food. (In
in pursuing which they satisfy their need for the power
young women the process is more complex, with greater
process. For example, those who have an unusually strong
emphasis on social power; we won’t discuss that here.)
drive for social status may spend their whole lives clim-
This phase having been successfully passed through, the
bing the status ladder without ever getting bored with that
young man has no reluctance about settling down to the
game.
responsibilities of raising a family. (In contrast, some mo-
80. (fr) People vary in their susceptibility to advertising
dern people indefinitely postpone having children because
and marketing techniques. Some are so susceptible that,
they are too busy seeking some kind of “fulfillment.” We
even if they make a great deal of money, they cannot sa-
suggest that the fulfillment they need is adequate expe-
tisfy their constant craving for the the shiny new toys that
rience of the power process — with real goals instead of
the marketing industry dangles before their eyes. So they
the artificial goals of surrogate activities.) Again, having
always feel hard-pressed financially even if their income
successfully raised his children, going through the power
is large, and their cravings are frustrated.
process by providing them with the physical necessities,
81. (fr) Some people have low susceptibility to adverti-
the primitive man feels that his work is done and he is
sing and marketing techniques. These are the people who
prepared to accept old age (if he survives that long) and
aren’t interested in money. Material acquisition does not
death. any modern people, on the other hand, are distur-
serve their need for the power process.
bed by the prospect of physical deterioration and death,
82. (fr) People who have medium susceptibility to ad-
as is shown by the amount of effort they expend trying to
vertising and marketing techniques are able to earn en-
maintain their physical condition, appearance and health.
ough money to satisfy their craving for goods and services,
We argue that this is due to unfulfillment resulting from
but only at the cost of serious effort (putting in overtime,
the fact that they have never put their physical powers
taking a second job, earning promotions, etc.). Thus ma-
to any practical use, have never gone through the power
terial acquisition serves their need for the power process.
process using their bodies in a serious way. It is not the
But it does not necessarily follow that their need is fully
primitive man, who has used his body daily for practical
satisfied. They may have insufficient autonomy in the po-
purposes, who fears the deterioration of age, but the mo-
wer process (their work may consist of following orders)
dern man, who has never had a practical use for his body
and some of their drives may be frustrated (e.g., security,
beyond walking from his car to his house. It is the man
aggression). (We are guilty of oversimplification in para-
whose need for the power process has been satisfied du-
graphs 80-82 because we have assumed that the desire
9

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for material acquisition is entirely a creation of the ad-
vestment that accompanies it, is one of the most potent
vertising and marketing industry. Of course it’s not that
forces acting toward the continual development and per-
simple. [11]
fecting of the system, with negative consequences for in-
83. (fr) Some people partly satisfy their need for po-
dividual freedom (see paragraph 131). Especially, for the
wer by identifying themselves with a powerful organiza-
most creative scientists and engineers, work tends to be
tion or mass movement. An individual lacking goals or po-
largely a surrogate activity. This point is so important that
wer joins a movement or an organization, adopts its goals
it deserves a separate discussion, which we shall give in a
as his own, then works toward those goals. When some
moment (paragraphs 87-92).
of the goals are attained, the individual, even though his
85. (fr) In this section we have explained how many
personal efforts have played only an insignificant part in
people in modern society do satisfy their need for the po-
the attainment of the goals, feels (through his identifica-
wer process to a greater or lesser extent. But we think that
tion with the movement or organization) as if he had gone
for the majority of people the need for the power process
through the power process. This phenomenon was explo