Politics Of Denial; Author: Milburn, Michael A.; Joint Author: Conrad, Sheree D.; Paperback

Author: Milburn, Michael A.; Joint Author: Conrad, Sheree D.
Paperback; 3 Illustrations
302 pages
Published: March 1998
The MIT Press
ISBN: 0262631849

Anger and resentment appear to be playing an increasingly important role in politics, as evidenced by the vociferous opposition to welfare, abortion, and immigrants, and by the rise of the radical Religious Right. The Politics of Denial presents a compelling explanation of these phenomena, providing solid empirical evidence for the role of rigid, harsh childrearing practices in the creation of punitive, authoritarian adult political attitudes. The authors show how political processes in the United States are distorted by the unresolved negative emotions (such as fear, anger, and helplessness) that remain from punitive parenting, and by the politicians and conservative religious leaders who exploit those emotions. Among the many public figures discussed are Patrick Buchanan, NewtAnger and resentment play an increasingly important role in politics. This text claims that rigid and harsh childrearing practices have played a role in the creation of punitive, authoritarian adult political attitudes and explores how this has distorted political processes in the US.