Psychopathology and Politics

work by Lasswell

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July 13, 2026

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Harold Lasswell's Psychopathology and Politics (1930) explores the intersection of mental health and political behavior. The work investigates how psychological desires for domination can be channeled toward constructive ends. It delves into the idea that personal frustrations can be sublimated into a pursuit of power.1

Psychopathology itself is the study of mental disorders and maladaptive behaviors. Political science, on the other hand, is the systematic study of governance, focusing on power dynamics and the factors influencing government operations. Lasswell's contribution lies in applying psychological insights to understand political actors and their motivations.231

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political science
Developments in the United States
His Psychopathology and Politics (1930) and Power and Personality (1948) fused categories of Freudian psychology with considerations of power. Many political scientists attempted to use Freudian psychology to analyze politics, but none succeeded in establishing it as a firm basis of political science, because it depended…
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His Psychopathology and Politics (1930) and Power and Personality (1948) fused categories of Freudian psychology with considerations of power. Many political scientists attempted to use Freudian psychology to analyze politics, but none succeeded in establishing it as a firm basis of political science, because it depended…
Read More