Group psychology suggests that two changes occur when individuals are assembled into a group: There is an intensification of the emotions; and there is an inhibition of the intellect.
There is also agreement that as the group grows in size, both the inhibition of intellect and the intensification of emotions grow roughly in proportion.
Demagogues instinctively know that they can effectively harangue only masses. They are notoriously ineffective in a conference room.
Hitler knew what he was doing, giving his speeches in huge, packed stadiums at night, with light from torches placed in military and symbolic formations.
It is hard to imagine a better arrangement if your purpose is to drive out all reason and replace it with pure frenzy.
It seems like a modern version of primitive tribal rites, where constant drumming, dancing, and the chanting of slogans back and forth from speaker to audience, produce similar effects to the rallies Hitler led at Nuremberg.
This also explains why missionaries never defeat witch doctors if they approach their prospective parishioners with intellectual arguments.
The guys who speak at rallies are well known to history. We call them demagogues.
If you don’t know what demagogue means, be very careful. It’s a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people so he can acquire and increase his power.
He does not have your best interests at heart.
This short article is taken largely from Moving Mountains, by Henry Boettinger.