Why was Sigmund Freud’s Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego important to propaganda studies?

Sigmund Freud’s Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego (1921) was highly significant to propaganda studies because it provided a psychological framework for understanding the relationship between leaders and their followers.12

In this work, Freud argued that mass phenomena are defined by intense, regressive emotional ties that strip individuals of their independence and self-control. He posited that group formation functions similarly to a "primal horde," where members develop libidinal attachments to a leader who serves as a surrogate for the father figure.3

This analysis became a cornerstone for understanding how propagandists and "opinion managers" could influence large groups. By highlighting that the rank and file of a group are often passive until aroused by a leader they admire and trust, Freud’s theories offered insights into the mechanics of political and social influence. Consequently, his work helped shift the study of propaganda from simple lore toward a more scientific analysis of human motivation, suggestibility, and the power of leadership in shaping collective behavior.12