Class power structures reproduce the infantile situation, making submission to rulers appear rational.

Evidence

Fromm’s central idea, which gave a class-theoretical edge to Freud, was that the power structure of class societies reproduces the infantile situation for those who are subjected to it. They experience their rulers as the powerful, the strong and the respected. Rebelling against them seems to be pointless, and seeking their protection and goodwill through love and submission appears to be rational. The idea of God demands a willingness, even from adults, to submit to father-figures and to view rulers in a transfiguring light. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 221

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 221
• XREF: connects to: Children imitate the powerful because holding power itself is reinforcing. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1066; Under asymmetric power, the rationality of the ruled serves the rulers’ aims. — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 424; Family structure is internalized into the superego and projected into political behavior — Frantz Fanon, Constance Farrington, Black skin, white masks, 574 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Under asymmetric power, the rationality of the ruled serves the rulers’ aims. #expands (0.85) — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 424
• Family structure is internalized into the superego and projected into political behavior #expands (0.85) — Frantz Fanon, Constance Farrington, Black skin, white masks, 574
• Children imitate the powerful because holding power itself is reinforcing. #corroborates (0.80) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1066
• Subaltern forces resist rationalization intended to serve dominant interests. #complicates (0.72)
• Authoritarian mass attitudes can elect dictators or embolden illegal power grabs. #expands (0.72) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 126
• Authoritarianism is operationalized through childrearing values rather than politics #complicates (0.70)