Hitler and Twittler: (Un)Truth and Fascism

“If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” – Adolph Hitler
“I love the poorly educated.” "Just remember, what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what's happening.”  -- Donald Trump            

In this presentation, I will explore the central role of untruth in fascism; psychological factors contributing to devotion to charismatic/populist leaders and their “big lies”; how social media in the 21st century magnifies untruths and amplifies psychological affinity for big liars; the grave danger this poses to democracy; and, the role of education to offset these pernicious tendencies.

A popular mini-college during Celebration Weekend 2022 is coming to you live on the (big) screen.  Sheldon Solomon is a Professor of Psychology at Skidmore College.  His studies of the effects of the uniquely human awareness of death on behavior are supported by the National Science Foundation and Ernest Becker Foundation and featured in the documentary film Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality.  He is co-author of In the Wake of 9/11: The Psychology of Terror and The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life.  Sheldon is an American Psychological Society Fellow, a recipient of an American Psychological Association Presidential Citation, and a Lifetime Career Award by the International Society for Self and Identity.