Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Thiago Araújo  and  MOREIRA, Jacqueline de Oliveira. Fundamentalist Leadership: An Approach from Freud. Estud. pesqui. psicol. [online]. 2023, vol.23, n.1, pp.370-389.  Epub May 03, 2024. ISSN 1808-4281.  https://doi.org/10.12957/epp.2023.75318.

Based on a literature review, this article aims to approach religious fundamentalism from the perspective of Freudian theory. It is justified to approach this complex and currently boasting phenomenon from different epistemological perspectives - among which, the psychoanalytic one -, aiming at an interdisciplinary understanding. Psychoanalysis, from its beginnings, showed an interest in the religious phenomenon, which became a recurring theme throughout Freud's work. Given the expressiveness of current religious fundamentalism in postmodern society, it is opportune to seek, in Freudian thought, theoretical contributions that can help thinking about this phenomenon. The research developed seeks to highlight a relevant characteristic in fundamentalist religious segments: the power of leaders who, like the figure of the great man approached by Freud, are capable of attracting, influencing and mobilizing the masses, even leading them to postures of intolerance and attack against the diversity that constitutes society. It is concluded that religious fundamentalism tends to persist and its various resurgences demonstrate how religion is not immune to carrying, in itself, a potential for triggering the aggressive and destructive drive inherent to all human beings and to their various ways of associating.

Keywords : religious fundamentalism; psychoanalysis; leader..

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