The psychology of gun control advocates.


Fiannan

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Raging Against Self Defense: A Psychiatrist Examines The Anti-Gun Mentality, By Sarah Thompson, M.D.

This is an excellent article originally printed at Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc. .

It explains what defense mechanisms are involved when a person wants to ban guns. Very good analysis.

Edited by Fiannan
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What he was really saying was

The reality is obvious, but the wronged wife is so threatened by her husband's infidelity that she is unable to accept it, and so denies its existence.

Anti-gun people do the same thing.

In the case of anti-gun people, reaction formation keeps any knowledge of their hatred for their fellow humans out of consciousness, while allowing them to feel superior to "violent gun owners".

Also, it's important to remember that not all anti-gun beliefs are the result of defense mechanisms. Some people suffer from gun phobia

Either anti-gun people harbor more rage than others, or they're less able to cope with it appropriately.

So let me get this straight: The only reason someone would be anti-gun is because they have some sort of psycological problem, which the evil anti-gun agenda overlords exploit to further their cause?

If that's what it is saying, I have to say I don't really think it's a great article. More like a huge steaming pile of uncharitable, invalid, inflamitory crap.

From where I'm standing, a segment of most any demographic, be they pro or anti gun, may exhibit these defense mechanisms, and other segments don't. This article needs quite a bit less categorical statements if it wants me to be impressed.

If I saw myself as a part of the anti-gun crowd, I'd be insulted at this stupid article. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm insulted because it was produced by someone in my pro-gun camp.

LM

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Loudmouth_Mormon, psychology generally teaches us that there are underlying motives for extreme behavior. For instance, reaction formation totally explains why when you question a peace activist they often get violent in words or deeds. There are underlying emotional motives that are far removed from rational thought. Our entire economic structure of consumption and commercialism is based on this and it originates in theory from Edward Bernays who is basically the father of public relations and marketing. Look up his book called Propaganda online and you will find what he was talking about.

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psychology generally teaches us that there are underlying motives for extreme behavior

True. But anti-gun opinions aren't "extreme behaviors". That's sort of the basis of my strong reaction. The author is basically saying "anyone who is anti-gun has something wrong with them", and that just ain't true.

For instance, reaction formation totally explains why when you question a peace activist they often get violent in words or deeds.

Very possibly true. But the article isn't using words like "often". It's full of peanut-buttered categorical statements that just plain don't belong.

LM

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I wonder if anyone has ever investigated the psychology of people who compensate for deep insecurities by trying to prove that anyone who disagrees with them is somehow irrational.

Edit: Every viewpoint a person has is a complex combination of many factors; some people may be in fact for gun control for the reasons in the article, but to project that particular case on all people who have a similar opinion is rediculous. Yes, much of our behavior is influenced by complex emotional factors, but those factors are different from person to person and you can not extrapolate all that from a person's stance on one particular issue.

Edited by DigitalShadow
Tried to add something besides sarcasm to the discussion
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It explains what defense mechanisms are involved when a person wants to ban guns. Very good analysis.

I wonder, what psychologic mechanisms motivate a person to post trite essays belittling people who don't like guns.

Since you are so enamored of Freud, I'm sure you realize guns are phallic symbols. Yes?

Elphaba

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