How Shame Makes People Living in Poverty More Supportive of Authoritarianism

Shame is a powerful emotion that can be both debilitating and motivating. It can serve as a signal that something is amiss, spurring us to take corrective action. But it can also be a source of tremendous pain and self-doubt, leading to feelings of worthlessness and despair. For people living in poverty, shame can be a constant companion, reinforcing their sense of inadequacy and exclusion from society. In this article, we explore the paradoxical effect of shame on political attitudes, specifically how it can lead the poor to embrace authoritarianism as a means of restoring their dignity and sense of agency.

The Psychological Impact of Poverty:

Poverty is not just a material condition but also a psychological one. Living in poverty can lead to a sense of powerlessness and hopelessness that undermines one's ability to make choices and pursue goals. Poverty can also produce feelings of shame and stigma, as society often blames the poor for their predicament, seeing them as lazy, incompetent, or morally deficient. This stigma can be internalized, leading the poor to feel ashamed of their situation and their inability to improve it. Shame can be especially potent when poverty is intergenerational, as it can be seen as a marker of inherited failure and inadequacy.

The Appeal of Authoritarianism:

Authoritarianism is a political system that emphasizes strong, centralized power and strict social control. It promises to restore order and stability in society, often through the use of force and repression. While authoritarianism is often associated with wealthy elites seeking to maintain their grip on power, it can also appeal to the poor, who may see it as a way of gaining agency and dignity in a world that has excluded and stigmatized them.

One of the key appeals of authoritarianism for the poor is its promise of swift and decisive action. Authoritarian leaders often portray themselves as strong and decisive, promising to take bold steps to address social problems and restore order. This can be especially appealing to the poor, who may feel that democratic systems are slow, inefficient, and unresponsive to their needs. Authoritarianism can also offer a sense of certainty and predictability in a world that may seem chaotic and unpredictable, providing a sense of stability and security.

Another appeal of authoritarianism is its promise of restoring a sense of national pride and identity. Authoritarian leaders often appeal to nationalistic sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the nation and its people. This can be especially appealing to the poor, who may feel excluded from mainstream society and its values. Authoritarianism can offer a sense of belonging and identity, as well as a means of expressing pride and solidarity with others who share similar experiences of exclusion and marginalization.

The Role of Shame:

Shame can play a powerful role in fueling support for authoritarianism among the poor. As we noted earlier, shame can be a constant companion for the poor, reinforcing their sense of inadequacy and exclusion from society. Shame can also produce a desire for recognition and validation, as the poor seek to restore their sense of dignity and worth. Authoritarianism can offer a means of achieving this recognition, as it promises to restore order and stability in society, elevating the role of the nation and its people. By aligning themselves with the authoritarian state, the poor can feel a sense of validation and belonging, as well as a sense of agency and power.

Shame can also lead the poor to adopt authoritarian attitudes and behaviors. Shame can produce a desire for control and dominance, as the poor seek to avoid being stigmatized and excluded. Authoritarianism can offer a means of achieving this control, as it emphasizes strict social norms and hierarchies. By conforming to these norms and hierarchies, the poor can feel a sense of belonging and validation, as well as a sense of power and control over others who are seen as inferior.

However, while authoritarianism may offer a temporary sense of validation and agency for the poor, it ultimately reinforces the very structures of power and inequality that produce shame and exclusion in the first place. Authoritarianism relies on strict hierarchies, suppression of dissent, and a focus on obedience and conformity rather than individual agency and freedom. By embracing authoritarianism, the poor may be inadvertently perpetuating the very structures that keep them in poverty and exclusion, rather than challenging them.

Shame is a powerful emotion that can have both negative and positive effects on political attitudes. For people living in poverty, shame can be a constant companion, reinforcing their sense of inadequacy and exclusion from society. This sense of shame can lead the poor to embrace authoritarianism as a means of restoring their dignity and sense of agency. However, while authoritarianism may offer temporary validation and agency for the poor, it ultimately reinforces the very structures of power and inequality that produce shame and exclusion in the first place. Rather than seeking validation through authoritarianism, the poor may need to challenge the structures of power and inequality that keep them in poverty and exclusion.