one of the fundamental characteristics of dictatorial rule, which is associated with arbitrary power, enhanced by the concentration of political power in the hands of the head of state (despot, leader, king, etc.) and the elite close to him, the absence of separation of powers, the suppression of dissent by any, including violent ones, means, the use of the army to reinforce the actions of the state apparatus in order to exercise a monopoly on power. Under despotism, there are no legal restrictions on political power, which makes it impossible to remove the despot based on the law. Non-existent civil liberties have been replaced by strict enforcement of forced labor norms. Decision-making is unpredictable, impulsive, usually explained by the desire to transform or discipline society. Despotic methods of control over society pursue one main goal - to strengthen the sole power. Historically, this form of government developed in the eastern despotisms, the most ancient states of Asia (China, India, the states of the Middle East, etc.). To manage the vast economy, a wide bureaucratic network was created (see Bureaucracy), which organized and planned the forced labor of farmers, the distribution of water, etc. On this basis, the despotism of absolutist bureaucratic states arose. The main economic, administrative and political functions were in the hands of the ruling class, consisting of landowners and land managers, army officers, and influential clergy. The personality of the supreme ruler was endowed with high secular and partly spiritual authority. The army was brought in to maintain internal order. The ruler demanded complete submission and obedience from his subjects, suppressing social conflicts with the usual methods of terror.
Separate features of despotic rule are characteristic of modern dictatorial regimes.
Despotism is the most terrible thing that can be in a person. It can manifest itself in various forms, and it is often called a property of character, but this is not at all the case. Despotism is not alien to either man or woman. What is despotism and how it manifests itself, we will talk about this in the article.
What it is?
Stanisław Jerzy Lec rightly noted that from the wound inflicted on a despot, a sea of foreign blood is pouring. Despotism is such an activity when a person who believes in his unlimited power cannot even believe that someone is able to act contrary to his wishes. From this, he begins to show aggression, which is expressed in physical or psychological violence. This is exactly what is said about despotism in psychology. This is an acquired personality trait that manifests itself in the desire to gain unlimited power.
On the other hand, the term "despotism" is used in political science. From the point of view of political science, despotism is a form of government when the state apparatus is in the hands of one person or group of people, and they have every right to control the fate of their subjects. Simply put, despotism is unlimited power.
I am a demigod
It is believed that despotism consists in the manifestation of unfavorable features of the ego. As a result, this can lead to the loss of rational control over one's behavior, and all actions will become subordinate to the exclusively affective sphere.
Despotic behavior cannot stop on its own. The less the despot is resisted, the more he will consider himself a demigod and will demand the impossible as a matter of course.
There are no people who have not at least once turned into despots in order to get what they want from their environment, but if this becomes a stable line of behavior, then a person definitely needs expert advice. After all, the main signs of mental disorders are uncontrolled violence, inadequate requirements and an assessment of reality.
Arbitrariness, tyranny, imperiousness, authoritarianism, autocracy - these synonyms of despotism very well describe the deviation that has arisen. A despot tends to impose his will on others through the use of psychological or physical violence, aggression or humiliation.
Often the causes of despotism are childhood traumas that a person tries to cope with in such a destructive way in order to gain self-confidence. The more fears are stored in the bins of the despot's psyche, the more he seeks to control someone else's freedom. Aggression, he covers the uncertainty in his own attractiveness.
In the family, the despot literally makes you love yourself. He is led by a global and causeless revenge that appears without a reason. Thus, a person restores undermined conceit and respect. Despoticism excludes such concepts as cooperation and respect for others. As a result, instead of missing love and understanding, a person receives hatred, hostility, misunderstanding and, as a result, loneliness.
Causes
Despoticism is not inherent at the DNA level and does not depend on features nervous system, but the prerequisites for its formation are laid early. Being brought up by imperious parents who did not hear the needs of their child, but demanded unquestioning obedience, a person perceives such a model of behavior as the norm. Growing up, he begins to realize a despotic form of relationships at all possible levels. Also, despotism can be caused by the desire to take revenge on the environment for their grievances. Constant insults, humiliation and cruelty can lead to the desire to take revenge on the whole world, and not just the offender.
Although despotism is not only the desire to punish someone or copy the behavior of parents. Often despotism develops against the background of the fact that the child was constantly inspired by thoughts about his uniqueness, originality and superiority over others. The manifestation of despotism lies in the obsessive, neurotic idea of asserting one's power. To do this, a person chooses inadequate methods and is sure that he alone in this world deserves universal recognition and unquestioning obedience.
Traits of despotism
In a society with a disturbed perception of violence and the boundaries of the individual, despotism can be perceived as a manifestation of character, and for this a person will even be respected. The first and most characteristic sign of despotism is the use of violence as the norm of behavior and the only possible way relationship adjustments. Despots do not know how to ask, negotiate or compromise. If the behavior of the partner does not correspond to the desires of the despot, various kinds of violence can be used. Although at first the despot, by demonstrating his displeasure, may give another the opportunity to correct his oversight, but if this does not happen immediately, he will immediately be punished. It is also worth noting that often despots put forward very strange demands, in which dissatisfaction can be caused by what others consider the norm.
gaslighting
You can often observe this type of behavior as gaslighting. This is when a despot convinces his victim that she has imagined everything, and any rudeness is nothing but unstable mental condition the victim himself. A despot will never admit his guilt, on the contrary, his victim will be accused of manipulative tantrums, although in reality these will be tears caused by pain and humiliation.
For a despot, humiliating and insulting others is the norm. And if someone tries to clarify the relationship, they can be accused of lacking a sense of humor, and in order for the victim to dispel all doubts, her social circle gradually narrows. Despots are always trying to completely destroy the other person's self-esteem, so they get more leverage to manipulate.
How does a despot work?
Despots usually act very subtly. The mechanism of influence on a person is something like this: at first, a despot will be a harmless shushpanchik, ready for anything. He will give a lot of attention and compliments. Over time, a person gets used to admiration in his address, and then the despot begins to act, namely, to criticize. After the first criticism, a person does everything possible to improve. But then the criticism becomes much more, in proportion to it, the desire of the victim to correct the situation increases. As a result, an idea is discovered with the help of which one can easily control the consciousness of another person. Also, it is also important to note that the despot will assign all the achievements to himself, and he will dump the failures on the partner, and it is useless to appeal to an adequate perception of reality.
Male and female despotism
When a man is led by a despotic ego, he turns into an unguided projectile. It is acceptable for him to use psychological and physical violence, some do not shy away from sexual violence. Households are imposed their own ideas and rules, which must be unconditionally followed, and any manifestation of free-thinking and individuality is considered obscene.
Despots can be not only men, but also women, and this is much more dangerous. A man is designed in such a way that he is guided either by reason or by feelings. In a woman, both of these factors work simultaneously. Her favorite hobby is constant jealousy. A woman knows that her word can destroy any man, so she takes on insults, reproaches, caustic remarks and does not forget to ridicule the qualities of a person and his sexual abilities. If the man tries to resist, the woman turns to blackmail and threats. For example, threatens to commit suicide or take away children.
The word despotism does not just characterize a person's behavior - it is a real diagnosis that needs to be treated.
DESPOTISM (Greek despoteia - unlimited power) - unlimited power of a despot, arbitrariness, autocracy, suppression of someone else's will.
Raizberg B.A. Modern socioeconomic dictionary. M., 2012, p. 118.
Despotism (NFE, 2010)
DESPOTISM is one of the fundamental characteristics of dictatorial rule, which is associated with arbitrary power, enhanced by the concentration of political power in the hands of the head of state (despot, leader, king, etc.) and the elite close to him, the absence of separation of powers, the suppression of dissent by any, including violent, by means, using the army to reinforce the actions of the state apparatus in order to exercise a monopoly on power. Under despotism, there are no legal restrictions on political power, which makes it impossible to mix the despot, relying on the law. Non-existent civil liberties have been replaced by strict enforcement of forced labor norms. Decision-making is unpredictable, impulsive, usually explained by the desire to transform or discipline society. Despotic methods of control over society pursue one main goal - to strengthen the sole power ...
Despotism (Lopukhov, 2013)
DESPOTIA - power based on the ancient Eastern traditions of patriarchy and paternalism, when the state, growing out of a community organization and using community foundations, is identified with society and is further regarded as a single and indivisible patrimony of the supreme ruler, whose will, whose decision is the law for numerous subjects (members of the "family-community"), united, as a rule, in social corporations. Under despotism, the personality of the ruler, the monarch, is deified during his lifetime, and after death becomes the subject of a cult.
Despotism (Comte-Sponville, 2012)
DESPOTISM (DESPOTISME). The unlimited power of one man. Despotism can be enlightened and even legal (in this it differs from tyranny), but it always remains unjust. If the despot obeyed the law, his power would lose its infinity. In this, despotism differs from monarchy, in which, as Montesquieu notes, “one person governs, but through the establishment of immutable laws”; while under despotism, “everything outside of all laws and rules is moved by the will and arbitrariness of one person” (“On the Spirit of Laws”, Book II, Chapter 1). The despot puts himself above the laws (Rousseau) or does not recognize any other laws than his own (Kant). Despotism is an absolute authoritarian monarchy. Its fundamental principle is not honor, as under a constitutional monarchy, and not virtue, as under a republic, but fear (ibid., III, 9). But this also determines the limit of despotism: it remains in force only as long as it is feared.
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Despotism is an acquired quality of the individual, manifested in the desire for unlimited power, which is achieved, regardless of the opinions and needs of others, by demanding constant and complete obedience. Despotism in psychology is a manifestation of extremely unfavorable features of the ego, its exorbitant growth, which ultimately leads to the loss of reasonable control over one's life manifestations, and all actions are subordinated exclusively to the affective sphere.
Despotism in the family manifests itself as psychological and physical violence, when all methods become relevant to achieve one's own power. A despotic person has no understanding of the personal boundaries and freedoms of others, and those who are considered his family are perceived by him as property. Naturally, in such a case, others are required to constantly fulfill the will of the despot, as well as full compliance with his ideas about life, not only his own and joint, but also how another person should behave and feel. Among the usual requirements, there may be such as a ban on tears and the need for constant joy. Such encroachments on the sensory sphere, which is not subject to control, indicate a lack of adequate perception.
Such behavior inevitably causes at the most various levels. The victims of the despot may try to explain or swear, broken dishes and physical beatings may be used. Those who finally feel their impotence offer silent resistance by silence, by arranging, which irreversibly disrupts the psyche of not only the victim, but also the tyrant himself.
Despotic behavior cannot stop on its own, and the less resistance is provided, the more a person will feel like a demigod and begin to demand the impossible for granted. It cannot be said that there are people who have never turned into despots in an attempt to get what they want from others, but those who given line behavior takes on critical forms, they need the help of specialists. Uncontrolled violence against others, inadequate demands and assessment of the situation are the main signs of the presence of mental disorders. At best, long-term psychotherapy will help correct the situation, at worst, specialized drug therapy will be required.
What is despotism
Despotism is behavior in psychology that includes such manifestations as imposing one's will not by argument, but by force, manifestation, use of revenge, humiliation, physical and sexual violence, gaslighting. Usually, the causes of such behavior are childhood traumas, complexes, and which a person tries to overcome in a similar destructive way, and gain confidence and integrity. The problem is that this strategy of behavior does not contribute to the establishment of harmonious relationships, where personal healing is possible at deep levels.
The more fears are hidden inside the despot's psyche, the more sophisticated his methods of control become and the greater the desire to control someone else's freedom. Uncertainty and doubts about their own attractiveness are covered up, which does not even give others the opportunity to choose.
Despotism in the family does not give its members a choice even in their own attitude, they are literally forced to love. Despotism often coexists with humiliation and vindictiveness, and if the humiliation of others has more or less obvious tendencies, since, in this way, a person begins to look better in his own eyes, then revenge is born global and causeless, directed at everyone and for no reason. The deep meaning of such revenge lies in the restoration of undermined conceit and respect.
Despite the power position and the desire for respect and exaltation of oneself, despotism excludes the cooperation and respect of others. Over time, such an attitude, provoking constant quarrels and conflicts, destroys any significant and lasting relationship, as well as the psyche of the participants in the contact. Instead of missing love and acceptance, the despot gets fear, revenge, misunderstanding, hostility and, as a result, loneliness.
Despotism appears as a personality trait in men and women, it only has small external differences in the choice of methods. At first, despotism may seem to be an exclusively male trait, just as when it comes to rape, everyone immediately sees a woman in the role of a victim. However, women are also despotic in many ways, it just rarely takes the form of physical violence. Women are able to destroy a man morally, blackmail, constant tantrums, threats, reproaches and humiliation of his dignity. The arsenal of moral torture is wider than physical, and the worst thing is that a despotic woman will not repent of what she has done, because her actions and words are guided not only by the mind, but also by the mind.
Also, despotism is characteristic of the elderly and even children (the first manifestations of such tendencies are possible at the age of three and are provoked by the beginning of the crisis period).
Reasons for despotism
Despotism is not an innate trait and does not depend in any way on the characteristics of the nervous system and other physiological factors, however, the prerequisites for its formation are laid quite early. The opinion that despotism is inherited is due to the fact that being brought up by imperious parents who did not hear the needs of the child, but only demanded unquestioning obedience, a person learns this model of behavior as the norm. In childhood, this quality has nowhere to manifest itself, since children are weak, but as they grow up, gain physical strength and master the moral methods of violence and coercion, a person begins to realize an arbitrary form of interaction at all levels.
Despotism is subconsciously formed by the desire to take revenge on others for the wrongs done. For this, one case is not enough, usually it is being in a toxic relationship or parenting with similar methods. Insults, humiliations, cruel punishments of a child can lead to a desire to punish not only the parents, but the whole world, for being deaf and blind to his grief. But not only mistreatment can serve as a prerequisite for the development of despotism, but also excessive suggestion about the uniqueness, originality of the child's personality, his superiority over others. The opinion of parents is very important and forms a self-relationship, having entered the real world, such a person is stressed that not everyone worships him, but someone openly ridicules shortcomings. In such situations, the way is chosen to force the surrounding society to think and perceive one's own personality in the usual framework.
Confirmation of his power for the despot becomes an obsessive neurotic idea that is not saturated with need, since the methods of satisfying it are chosen inadequately. must be carefully opened safe environment, learn to look at them without horror and pain, develop new ways of responding, recognizing such a story of your life. Attempts by a despot to get love and recognition are reminiscent of driving in fallen hair with a hammer - it hurts, is useless and requires tremendous effort.
Signs of despotism
In a society where the perception of violence and the boundaries of the individual is violated, despotism can be perceived as a manifestation of character or even respected. People who were traumatized by the dependent type in childhood fall in love with despots and tyrants in adulthood, again not noticing the gross violation of their freedom.
One of the characteristic signs of despotism is the perception of physical and psychological violence as a norm of behavior and a way to regulate relationships. Such mechanisms are the main ones in interaction with a despot; he practically does not know how to ask, negotiate, seek compromises.
Any kind of violence is used if the behavior of the partner does not correspond to the desires of the despot, and at first he can demonstrate his discontent and give the other the opportunity to correct himself, if this does not happen as soon as possible, then the other will be punished (a blow to the face or a week of silence - it does not matter). It is worth noting that the requirements for the behavior of a partner are often quite strange, and dissatisfaction will be caused by what others perceive as the norm. It's all about what causes any behavior or opinion that contains the individuality of the other, and not his personal.
Usually despots try to completely destroy the other person in order to have even more leverage to control. Although at the first stages of the relationship, on the contrary, they will sing about you. The mechanism is something like this: a person gets used to receiving huge doses of compliments, so at the first criticism he will do everything to improve, then there is more criticism, and the desire to correct the situation is stronger. As a result, you can find an idea from which it is very easy to manipulate another: “I’m actually terrible, it’s just that the rest don’t notice it, but this great person knows everything about me and continues to stay by my side.”
It is important that the despot assigns all the victories to himself, and hangs all the defeats on the partner, while the other can even be blamed for their own troubles at work, spoiled mood and being stuck in a traffic jam. Attempts to appeal to an adequate perception of reality are useless.
Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"
If the concept of tyranny refers to antiquity, then the scientific justification for despotism as a form of government can be found in the Age of Enlightenment - in Montesquieu. The concept is also borrowed from Aristotle, but he applies it to non-Hellenic states, where the power of the sovereign is similar to the power of the master over the slaves. In the understanding of Aristotle, the states of the Ancient East (India, Assyria, Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Persia) are despots.
The laws for despotic government are very simple, according to Montesquieu, “a person to whom all his five senses constantly say that he is everything, and other people are nothing, naturally entrusts all state affairs to his assistants.” So that disagreements do not arise between them and the sovereign would not have to intervene again in the government, it is better to entrust all affairs to one person (Montesquieu calls him the Eastern concept of “vizier”). “After this, the sovereign will only have to wonder how simple it is to govern the state. The appointment of a vizier, therefore, constitutes the basic law of despotism. Montesquieu C. On the Spirit of Laws (reprinted). M.: 2003 - S.92.
Honor cannot be the principle of a despotic state: there all people are equal and therefore cannot rise above each other; there all people are slaves, and slaves cannot exalt themselves over anything. Just as a republic needs virtue, and a monarchy needs honor, so a despotic government needs fear. It does not need virtue, and honor would be dangerous for it. Montesquieu expresses the essence of despotism in one sentence: when the savages of Louisiana want to get the fruit from the tree, they cut down the tree at the root and pluck the fruit. Hardly to be found best image to show the primitiveness, inferiority and wastefulness of this type of power Gadzhiev KS Introduction to political science. M.: Logos, 2007 - S.97-98. Despotism, the main principle of which is fear, can be characterized by the following features: a minimum of laws; simplicity of political administration and its uniformity; assimilation of political and civil power at home. Under despotism, the strength of the state is measured not by the art of political administration, but by the army, it becomes necessary to reconcile the security of the state (which requires a strong army) and the security of the sovereign (with a possible threat to him from the same army). Religion plays an important role, providing additional sources of loyalty to the sovereign from the subjects, as well as their unity. Under despotism there are no civil laws about land ownership, the sovereign has the opportunity to declare himself the owner of all the land. As for the person, he has no value, his property is not secured, and this, in turn, leads to stagnation in industry and commerce and, as a result, the spread of poverty and misery. A person has no right to protection, a person can be deprived of all rights without trial or investigation. It is natural under despotic rule to plunder the state treasury. An unjust state must have at its disposal a mass of embezzling officials, in relation to whom confiscations are necessary, which are unacceptable in moderate governments, where they are an encroachment on property. Montesquieu sums up his unsurpassed analysis of despotism with the well-known formula: “All people are equal in republican states, they are equal in despotic states: in the first case, because they are everything, in the second, because they are all nothing.” Montesquieu C. On the Spirit laws (reprint). M.: 2003 - S.114. Despotism, therefore, is a general lack of rights before the sole supreme power.
The general pattern discovered by Montesquieu: the decomposition of every government almost always begins with the decomposition of its principles.
The disintegration of democracy begins when the spirit of equality is lost, or, on the contrary, when it is carried to an extreme and any idea of the need for subordination disappears. Montesquieu made his conclusions by once again analyzing the experience of the ancient Greek republics, about which it was known since the time of Plato and Aristotle that they experienced periods of both moderate and extreme democracy. Volgin V.P. The development of social thought in France XVIII V. M.: 2003 - S.105.
Aristocracies decay when the power of the nobility becomes arbitrary. In this case, it can be likened to a despotism with many despots. Corruption reaches its highest degree when the power of the nobility becomes hereditary, losing all moderation. In the state, two classes are formed, as it were, and each has its own system.
Monarchies disintegrate when class prerogatives and privileges of cities are abolished, when the sovereign treats dignitaries occupying high positions as slaves deprived of honor. On the contrary, it decays when a dishonorable person is adorned with honors.
As for despotism, it does not decompose suddenly and not as a result of any special circumstances, but constantly as a result of its inherent internal vice.
Every time two powers come together in the same hands, freedom is threatened. If we combine legislative and executive branch, then there will be no freedom, and the person clothed with them will be able to issue tyrannical laws, and then tyrannically execute them himself. There will be no freedom even if the judiciary is not separated from the legislative and executive powers. If it is connected with the legislative power, then the life and freedom of citizens will be in the power of arbitrariness, for the judges will be legislators. If the judiciary is combined with the executive, then the judges will have the opportunity to become oppressors. As a result, there will be no freedom in the state, and the citizen will not have “peace of mind based on the conviction of his safety” Montesquieu C. On the Spirit of Laws (reprinted.). M.: 2003 - p.117, which gives political freedom.
Under despotism, any independence, discontent, indignation, and even disagreement of those subject to it are strictly suppressed. The sanctions applied in this case stagger the imagination with their severity, and, as a rule, they do not correspond to the deed, but are determined arbitrarily. Hard suppression is used very widely Volgin V.P. The development of social thought in France in the 18th century. M.: 2003 - S.109. The psychological foundations of despotism are also peculiar: fear permeates all the pores in the state. Despotism is based on fear. Describing despotism, Montesquieu writes that everyone should feel every minute the eternally raised hand of the sovereign. “If the sovereign lowers his threatening hand even for a moment, if he cannot immediately destroy the persons occupying the first places in the state, then everything is lost, since fear - the only beginning of this form of government - has disappeared, and the people no longer have a protector" Montesquieu Sh. About the spirit of laws (reprinted.). M.: 2003 - S.126.
The despotic regime was found mainly in the Mediterranean countries, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America, in a word, in the states of the Asian mode of production, slave-owning societies, some feudal countries. It is typical for early stages development human society, statehood. However, this regime arose and can arise in some modern states due to the historical originality of their development, personal characteristics their political leaders, monarchs, ways of fighting for power and its implementation or suppression of opponents of the regime, etc. Formally, Montesquieu called “enormity of conquests” one of the signs of despotism, but this is not necessarily the case: in the 16th-18th centuries. The Commonwealth, a fairly significant state in terms of territory, was not an autocratic monarchy, but anarchy of the nobility.
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