State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind

by Bryant Welch

Finally, the answer to the many questions that have been preying on the minds of millions of Americans has arrived. Why are Americans so vulnerable to divisive political tactics? Why did Americans get dragged into such an unwise war in Iraq? Why do fundamentalist religious groups, Fox News, and right-wing radio still play such influential roles in America’s political landscape? And why are long-accepted rational scientific ideas like evolution under siege? These questions hold America’s future in the balance. Ultimately, they are questions about the American mind. Psychologist-attorney Dr. Bryant Welch has the answers.

If America is going to change the mind-set that led us to war in Iraq and left us unable to confront our serious national problems, this book is vitally important. Drawing on his unique experience both as a clinical psychologist and a Washington, D.C., political figure with the American Psychological Association, Dr. Welch shows how the long-term effects of sophisticated new forms of political manipulation have not only led to our debacle in Iraq but are also currently undercutting America’s ability to address its very serious problems. In the 1944 movie Gaslight , a husband drives his wife to the brink of insanity by playing games with her sense of reality. Just as in the movie, America’s most recent political “gaslighters,” such as George W. Bush, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and many religious leaders, have generated and exploited confusion in the minds of countless Americans.

Gaslighters prey on their victim’s vulnerability to paranoia, sexual perplexity, and envy to undermine the mind’s ability to function rationally. Welch examines why millions of Americans, in response to such assaults, subconsciously and dangerously create their own simplistic reality, even if it is completely different from the more complex reality of the world.

Most important, State of Confusion explains how and why Americans must act now to fight back against this harmful manipulation before it’s too late. Dr. Welch’s exploration of the American mind is both fascinating and frightening, and State of Confusion is a must-read for everyone who cares about the future of this great country.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2008

Reviews

[Jon]

Enjoyable and disturbing look at the phenomenon of political "gaslighting" (this term refers to the process of slowly driving someone nuts with, primarily, verbal abuse and is derived from a play by Patrick Hamilton, which has been filmed twice; oddly, Welch apparently is unaware of the existence of the first film version and of the original play). As someone who's been gaslighted by some true geniuses at the art, I appreciated Welch's analysis of this form of psychological torture. More questionable is the analogy Welch makes between gaslighting on a personal level and the attempts of mass media and politicians to turn our brains into mush. Perhaps the point is that no one can gaslight you without your, at least tacit, consent.

[Jeff Brailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author makes the case that the US electorate (at least the ones who were scared into voting Republican in the last presidentail election)are collective victims of a mass psychosis that was purposely caused by the right wing.

He makes his case well. I am proud I am one of the sane voters who didn't vote for Bush and I certainly hope everyone who did will take the time to read this book and hopefully have their pyschosis cured.

[Mike Edwards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Welch is a clinical psychologist by training, and he applies that training to the American electorate as a whole. He argues that conservatives (note: just conservatives; for some reason liberals are either too kindhearted or too stupid to understand how to do this) use fear to manipulate an ignorant electorate into supporting bad conservative politics (like the War in Iraq). It's a partisan assault on the right dressed up as social psychology, and not worth reading.

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychologist’s take on the American psyche’s manipulation by certain, less than honorable, elements in the US. I enjoyed it, although I cannot say I liked what I was reading.

[Expose Austin Texas Duty To Care For Others · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on gaslighting (i.e., social manipulation, psychological abuse, cultural hegemony, etc.)

[WebSkipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I am stunned. Long perplexed by my own views, those of my fellow Americans, and our apparent vulnerability to the political system, pundits, talking heads and media, this book really helps me to make some sense of it all. Most especially when it comes to our seemingly endless wars and our relationships with the world at large. Written by a clinical psychologist and lawyer who examines the mind, the world, law and politics to help understand how they relate and interact, he draws on his own education and decades of clinical practice in understanding the mind and how it is mercilessly manipulated in the pursuit of petty political ends.

Those who know me are well aware that when I'm particularly impressed by a book, I get one or more extra copies to loan out or give away to my friends. This is one of those, and I just now purchased another copy.

I only very rarely give five stars, but this book most certainly deserves all five. And a read by those who haven't yet done so.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had similar views about the necessity for widespread cognitive awareness going into this book, and I was not disappointed by Welch's exploration and elucidation of the subject. I had a little light go off when he described the amorphous nature of jealousy. I was slightly disappointed by his treatment of Hillary Clinton, who I consider a sort of gaslighter, and so felt a bit of gaslight-by-proxy in the occasional adulation. That said, I don't disagree that sexism plays an obvious role in the virulence of anti-Hillary Clinton sentiment. Overall, this was a rather minor issue for me. Welch's psychological insights are valuable; and he says many things that I have been trying to say, but with greater eloquence and depth.

[Christine Hernando · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time

This book had potential and the author failed to deliver. The author is so clearly biased that it clouds his judgment and prevents him from seeing/acknowledging that gaslighting is not just a conservative/right/Republican phenomenon; it is clearly present among liberal/left/Democrats. This bias detracts from the author’s credibility and left me, for one, feeling like he was trying to gaslight me. Fortunately, I’m not as weak minded as he would like. Don’t waste your time reading this. I regret that I stuck it out as those are hours I cannot get back.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Of you want to learn what makes you and your opponents tick I highly recommend this.
I really enjoyed it!!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still reading this book but it's spot on. Welch argues that Americans are being gaslighted, or manipulated to question reality. This opens them to suggestion against their own interests and well-being.

[JOANNE MACPEEK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting analysis on how paranoia, envy, and sexual perplexity have deep affects on our minds. Is it possible to see through the manipulations put upon us? I hope so!