PsyberSpace: Understand Your World

Alone Together in the Empire: The Psychology of Community Collapse and Collective Rage


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Capitalism Stole Your Support System

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the emotional ramifications of systemic abandonment by protective institutions, especially in response to the US's recent unprovoked attack on Iran. The discussion explores the psychological effects of community collapse, the lack of a communal safety net, and the individualist culture that exacerbates feelings of powerlessness and disconnection. Drawing on political and developmental psychology, this episode examines issues such as civic trauma, emotional gaslighting, and moral injury while proposing ways to rebuild a sense of community and shared grief. It calls for collective action, mutual aid, and solidarity as psychological and practical responses to ongoing societal crises.

00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:30 Unprovoked Attack on Iran
01:43 Emotional Impact of Government Actions
03:37 The Breakdown of Community Support
05:33 Psychological Effects of Isolation
09:47 The Pandemic's Lasting Impact
15:06 The Power of Grief and Community
20:19 Steps Towards Rebuilding Community
22:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

References

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PsyberSpace: Understand Your WorldBy Leslie Poston