The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Threat to American Democracy and All Humankind, Chapter Eleven

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Chapter Eleven

Second Solution: Norms, Standards, and Public Empowerment

In the previous chapter, we introduced the concept of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention methods that public health and public mental health employ to intervene with public health threats, where tertiary prevention represents the most dramatic but the least effective.  Nevertheless, it is imperative that we continue to pursue these methods without ceasing, until the dangers are contained.  The intervention methods discussed in relation to Trump Contagion were incarceration and hospitalization, which continue to apply.  If one criminal conviction fails to contain, others should be brought forth (the current Supreme Court’s extreme interventions to delay is actually proof of their effectiveness!).  If the other side threatens civil war or other retaliation, then greater limits are necessary, not less.  Otherwise, the dangers will only increase, not diminish or pass.  Multiple tries from multiple angles may be necessary, precisely because of the spread and long festering of the dangers; while the greater force is presently on the side of civilization, this could change, in which case we risk falling into chaos and unraveling.  Therefore, as in a situation of triage, the first priority is containment.  The sooner and more vigorously applied, the earlier tertiary prevention will be achieved.  Simultaneously, we must also practice the intermediate step, or secondary prevention, so that we do not arrive at dire situations in the first place.

Secondary prevention intervenes with persons who are at risk of getting ill, or a public that is at risk of being harmed by a president who lacks the mental capacity to fulfill his function.  When Donald Trump was president, the two intervention methods that came up repeatedly were the Twenty-Fifth Amendment and impeachment.  Although less immediately relevant at this time—and certainly not applicable to Joe Biden—now is the time to discuss them, to establish for future presidencies and possibly even for the immediate future presidency.  This intervention is not as direct, but its influence is more pervasive, as it strengthens the norms and standards of what we require of our leaders.  Strengthening these interventions also contributes to public empowerment.  This oft-overlooked “soft” psychological aspect may in fact be the most critical to preventing existentially disastrous “hard” results.