Childhood in the USA

For decades, the USA has been a highly militarized nation prone to warfare. The Trump presidency is currently demonstrating to the world the immense political destructiveness of which the country is capable. Yet there are also troubling internal issues, such as the drug epidemic, high murder rates, and massive economic inequality. 

From a psychohistorical perspective, the picture is clear: destructive childhood experiences act as the internal "engine" driving these processes. This fact is often overlooked. My brief summary here illustrates how an entire country can be subjected to a "childhood analysis." If the USA were a close friend of mine, I would strongly urge it to seek psychotherapy and work through its childhood...

What I did not include in the short presentation is the high rate of male circumcision in the USA. Currently, approximately 50% of male infants in the USA are circumcised. This rate is already lower than it used to be. At present, about 80% of all US men are circumcised.

The tradition emerged in the late 19th century from a combination of Victorian morality (anti-masturbation campaigns), medical misconceptions, and the rise of the modern hospital system. I cannot go into further detail here regarding the potential negative consequences—including psychological ones—of removing this body part. Those interested can find information on the subject.

Sources for US presidents:

Blair, G. (2000). The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President. Simon & Schuster, New York. Kindle-EBook-Version.

D'Antonio, M. (2016). Die Wahrheit über Donald Trump. Econ Verlag, Berlin.

deMause, L. (1984). Reagan's Amerika. Creative Roots, New York + London. 

deMause, L. (1998). The Phallic Presidency: The Clinton Scandals and the Yugoslav War as Purity Crusades. The Journal of Psychohistory, 25(4), https://psychohistory.com/articles/the-phallic-presidency/

deMause, L. (2005). Das emotionale Leben der Nationen. Drava Verlag, Klagenfurt, Celovec. (also available in English: „The Emotional Life Of Nations “)

Farrell, J. A. (2017). Richard Nixon: the life. Doubleday, New York

Frank, J. A. (2007). Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President. Harper, New York. 

Fuchs, S. (2019). Die Kindheit ist politisch! Kriege, Terror, Extremismus, Diktaturen und Gewalt als Folge destruktiver Kindheitserfahrungen. Mattes Verlag, Heidelberg.

Fuchs, S. & Petschauer, P. W. (2020). The Abusive and Troubled Childhood of Donald Trump. Clio's Psyche. Volume 27, Number 1, p. 37-41.

Kranish, M. & Fisher, M. (2016). Die Wahrheit über Trump: Die Biografie des 45. Präsidenten. Plassen Verlag, Kulmbach.

Kruse, M. (2017, 5. Nov.). The mystery of Mary Trump. Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-the-mystery-of-mary-trump/

Maraniss, D. (1998). The Clinton Enigma: A Four and a Half Minute Speech Reveals This President's Entire Life. Simon & Schuster, New York.

Trump, M. L. (2020). Too Much and Never Enough: how My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man. Simon + Schuster, New Yor