Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis: Neoliberal Exceptionalism and the Culture of Uncare (Psychoanalytic Horizons)

"Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis tells the story of a fundamental fight between a caring and an uncaring imagination. It helps us to recognise the uncaring imagination in politics, in culture - for example in the writings of Ayn Rand - and also in ourselves. Sally Weintrobe argues that achieving the shift to greater care requires us to stop colluding with Exceptionalism, the rigid psychological mindset largely responsible for the climate crisis. People in this mindset believe that they are entitled to have the lion's share and that they can 'rearrange' reality with magical omnipotent thinking whenever reality limits these felt entitlements. While this book's subject is grim, its tone is reflective, ironic, light and at times humorous. It is free of jargon, and full of examples from history, culture, literature, poetry, everyday life and the author's experience as a psychoanalyst, and a professional life that has been dedicated to helping people to face difficult truths."-- Provided by publisher Preface -- Introduction EXCEPTIONALISM: THE PSYCHOLOGY EXPLAINED -- 1. The conflicted self -- 2. The ordinary exception (contained by care) -- 3. The Exception (in charge and unbound) EXCEPTIONALISM'S RISE TO POWER IN THE NEOLIBERAL AGE -- 4. Neoliberal Exceptionalism -- 5. Friedrich Hayek and James Buchanan -- 6. Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged -- 7. Globalizing the neoliberal way -- 8. Neoliberals' rise to power -- 9. The earth seen as a globe -- 10. Implementing neoliberal economic policy WHAT CONTAINS EXCEPTIONALISM -- 11. Frameworks of care -- 12. The power of love THE CULTURE OF UNCARE -- 13. Culture and the birth of consumerism -- 14. Neoliberalism's culture of uncare HOW THIS CULTURE OPERATES -- 15. New Speak -- 16. The World Bank using New Speak -- 17. Mass media -- 18. Promoting denial -- 19. Advertising -- 20. Political framing -- 21. Blocking tears -- 22. Infantilizing people WE COLLUDE -- 23. On collusion EXCEPTIONALISM GROWS FRAUD BUBBLES -- 24. Case studies: Enron and fund managers -- 25. The corporation -- 26. Social groups -- 27. Trickledown THE NEW CARING IMAGINATION TODAY -- 28. Paradigm shift -- 29. Frameworks of care for a sustainable world -- 30. Living on Planet Earth not Planet La La THE CLIMATE BUBBLE IS BURSTING -- 31. The damage -- 32. Living with our feelings about the climate crisis 'THE CRAZY': EXCEPTIONALISM RUNS AMOK -- 33. 'The crazy' in politics -- 34. Noah's Arkism 21st-century style -- 35. We are gods -- 36. The 'all or nothing-ness' of having to be ideal -- 37. Bad leaders drive 'the crazy' -- 38. The problem of guilt -- 39. Good leaders -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Index __Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis__