The Dark Psychology of Fascism
The Dark Psychology of Fascism: Cognitive Warfare and How We Rebuild Resilient Communities, Families, and Children with Emotional Intelligence
Written by CE Davidson Cibelli PhD, Narrated by Joe Dwyer
We are living in an age of rising extremism, disinformation, and emotional manipulation. Authoritarian movements don’t begin with violence. They begin with fear. Fear of change, of difference, of losing control. Fascism preys on these emotions, distorting reality and eroding truth.
But psychological resistance is possible - and it begins with understanding the emotional forces at play.
In this urgent and eye-opening book, clinical psychologist Dr. CE Davidson Cibelli reveals how fascism hijacks human psychology through tactics like dehumanization, gaslighting, identity distortion, and moral disengagement. Drawing from history, neuroscience, child development, and trauma theory, she explains how authoritarian and fascist regimes thrive not just on power, but on psychological manipulation.
But this is not just a book about what goes wrong. It’s a guide to what we can do right.
With practical tools, reflective exercises, and moving stories of resistance, The Dark Psychology of Fascism outlines seven powerful strategies to foster emotional intelligence, restore civic trust, and rebuild a democracy rooted in dignity and courage. Through the lens of ethnopsychology, the book examines how diverse communities have endured - and resisted - oppression by drawing on cultural memory, spiritual wisdom, and intergenerational resilience.
Inside you'll discover:
The emotional roots of fascism and how it exploits collective trauma
How disinformation and cognitive warfare impact memory, identity, and critical thinking
Tools to strengthen media literacy, emotional regulation, and civic courage
Guidance for raising children with moral resilience in a divided world
Real-life stories of resistance, repair, and renewal from history and today
Insights from ethnopsychology to understand resilience and community survival across cultures
A downloadable PDF companion, the Toolkit for Parents & Teachers: Teach Emotional Intelligence and Build Resilience, is filled with developmentally appropriate resources for every grade level - from 1st grade through college. This toolkit includes reflection prompts, emotional intelligence skills, and civic engagement activities to help young people grow into courageous, informed citizens.
Chapter-by-chapter prompts to help readers actively explore the psychological and historical material, fostering personal insight, dialogue, and community engagement.
If you’ve ever wondered how ordinary people become complicit in cruelty - or how ordinary people can stop it - this book is for you.
Because democracy begins not just at the ballot box, but in the mind, the family, and the heart.
©2025 Perigee Papers LLC, (P)2025 Perigee Papers LLC
