You would thiink so, but trolls and attention whores don't think like we normal folks do.
Agreed. Even though they do trend toward the lower end of the IQ scale, the main difference I see is one of maturity. Specifically, the difference between those who think mainly of themselves and those who mainly think of the welfare of others be it family, friends or nation.
MAGAts, as a group, are primarily looking out for themselves even to the detriment of others including millions of their fellow Americans. This is why they push violence, even to the point of murder, for anyone who disagrees with them. As a group, they are narrow-minded, selfish and can be aggressive when in a mob, but individually they are weak.
I attribute the last trait to deep-seated low self-esteem. They hate themselves, but not wanting to take responsibility for themselves, they turn that hate outward. As political extremists, they put their backs against the wall of White Nationalism/Alt-Right and spit hatred toward anyone who is not in their group. Notice how quickly they turned on people who left the fold, the cult. MTG? Supporter who says something ever so slightly cross or not fully adoring? MAGA is a cult of personality and those who belong to a cult often have low self-esteem.
Observing the traits of frequent JPP posters reveals the characteristics mentioned below and in the previous post.
www.enlighttreatment.com
There are two aspects to maturity. The first we learn very early in our lives, and it relates to us learning how to take care of ourselves. We learn how to brush our teeth, tie our shoes, make our beds, and keep our room tidy. So, the first phase of maturity involves learning how to take care of oneself. Unfortunately, what we learn in phase one seems to fade over time as we begin to think that maturity occurs only when we think of others.
The second phase of maturity happens when we step outside of ourselves and begin to think of the welfare of others. By the time we reach adulthood, we cultivate the idea that “caring for others” and “acting unselfishly” is what maturity is all about. As we grow older, the first phase of maturity is ignored, pushed aside, and thought of as being selfish. We are no longer acting appropriately when thinking of ourselves, as the lessons learned in childhood seem to fade.
Why do some followers blindly worship cult leaders, gurus, and political leaders? The "abdication syndrome" may be so powerful that it becomes an altered state of consciousness.
www.psychologytoday.com
Emotionally vulnerable people can often be recruited into cults more easily than others, which can further impact their mental health. Find out more here.
www.mentalhealth.com
Many cults also use what’s called “love bombing” to draw people in and keep them under the cult’s control. As noted earlier, many people that join cults have anxiety or mood disorders and abuse drugs. These activities are often associated with low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness...
...The effects of growing up in a cult can be long-lasting and severe. Children in cults are often subjected to serious restrictions (e.g., no outside contact with other children) that can lead to difficulties with intimacy, low self-esteem, and the development of mental disorders. Furthermore, the restrictive nature of their upbringing can cause children in cults to develop identity confusion, panic attacks, and anxiety disorders when that restrictive structure is no longer there.