What Nietzsche termed ressentiment

The Underground Man and the MAGA Voter: A Study in Resentment and Alienation
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Underground Man,” the nameless, spiteful narrator of “Notes from Underground,” finds a striking, albeit imperfect, contemporary parallel in the archetype of the Trump MAGA voter. Both figures, though separated by a century and a half and vastly different social contexts, are animated by a potent cocktail of alienation, resentment, and a profound rejection of the established order and its prevailing rationalism. The comparison illuminates a recurring psychological and social phenomenon: the rebellion of the marginalized and embittered individual against a world they perceive as having no place for them.
At the heart of both the Underground Man and the MAGA voter lies a deep-seated sense of alienation. Dostoevsky’s anti-hero is a retired civil servant in 19th-century St. Petersburg who has withdrawn into a state of self-imposed exile. He is a man of “hyperconsciousness,” painfully aware of his own intellectual superiority yet simultaneously crippled by inaction and self-loathing. He feels disconnected from the “men of action” who navigate the world with a confidence he despises and envies. Similarly, a significant driver of the MAGA movement is a feeling of being left behind by social and economic progress. Supporters often express a sense of cultural displacement, economic anxiety, and the perception that they have been marginalized by a condescending elite in media, academia, and government.
This shared sense of alienation breeds a powerful resentment, or what the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche termed ressentiment. This is not merely anger or envy, but a sustained, impotent bitterness that defines one’s worldview. The Underground Man is consumed by ressentiment towards his former schoolmates, a condescending officer, and the very laws of nature that dictate that “two times two makes four.” He rebels against this rational certainty, proclaiming the value of his own “caprice.” Likewise, the MAGA movement is often characterized by a palpable resentment towards “elites,” “globalists,” and institutions perceived as corrupt and dismissive of their values. This resentment manifests as a rejection of “political correctness,” a distrust of mainstream media, and a desire for a strong leader who will disrupt the established order.
A key parallel is the rejection of rationalism and enlightened self-interest. The Underground Man rails against the utopian ideals of his time, which held that humans, guided by reason, would naturally act in their own best interests. He argues that humanity’s most cherished possession is its free will, even the freedom to act against its own advantage. This defiance of logic for the sake of individual assertion resonates with a strain of the MAGA ideology that prioritizes instinct and “common sense” over expert opinion and data-driven policy. The rallying cry to “Make America Great Again” is an appeal to a nostalgic and emotional vision of the past, rather than a detailed, rational plan for the future.
However, the comparison is not without its crucial distinctions. The Underground Man is a figure of paralyzing inaction. His hyper-awareness leads to an inability to commit to any course of action, trapping him in a cycle of spiteful rumination. In contrast, the MAGA movement, while fueled by a sense of powerlessness, is fundamentally about action and political engagement. It seeks to translate its resentment into tangible political change through rallies, voting, and a reordering of the political landscape.
Furthermore, the object of their rebellion differs in scope and nature. The Underground Man’s revolt is primarily philosophical and existential, a personal war against the deterministic laws of the universe and the constraints of societal norms. The MAGA voter’s rebellion is more concrete and targeted: it is a political and cultural movement aimed at specific policies (e.g., immigration, trade) and a perceived liberal hegemony.

In conclusion, while the Underground Man remains a solitary figure lost in his own intellectual and psychological labyrinth, his spirit of resentful defiance against a world he feels has cast him aside provides a powerful lens through which to understand the psychological motivations of the MAGA voter. Both represent a powerful and enduring human impulse: the cry of the individual who, feeling ignored and devalued, chooses to reject the prevailing logic and order, finding a paradoxical sense of freedom and identity in their very opposition.

Male and Female Voters

While male and female MAGA voters share a core allegiance to the “Make America Great Again” platform and its central figures, notable distinctions emerge in their demographic profiles, issue priorities, and the emphasis they place on certain social and economic concerns. While men form a larger portion of the MAGA base, women, particularly white women, represent a crucial and complex constituency within the movement. The differences between them are not always about opposing views, but rather nuances in focus and motivation.
Demographic and Social Differences
Statistically, men are more likely than women to identify as MAGA supporters. Polling data consistently shows a gender gap in support for Donald Trump and the Republican party, with this trend extending to the MAGA movement itself.
Socially, the motivations and viewpoints can diverge. For many men in the MAGA movement, there’s a strong focus on a perceived loss of traditional masculinity and a desire to restore a more patriarchal societal structure. This often translates into a greater emphasis on traditional family roles and a more pronounced opposition to evolving gender norms.
For female MAGA voters, the dynamic is more complex. Many are drawn to the movement’s emphasis on traditional values and family structures from a perspective of seeking stability and security. There is also a significant portion of female supporters, sometimes referred to as part of the “womanosphere,” who actively advocate for a return to gender-essentialist roles, viewing them as a positive alternative to modern feminism. However, polling data also suggests that Republican women can be more moderate than their male counterparts on certain social issues. For instance, they are more likely than Republican men to view the widespread availability of birth control as a good thing for society.
Diverging Issue Priorities
While both male and female MAGA voters are broadly aligned on key issues, their order of importance and the lens through which they view them can differ.
Economy: The economy is a top concern for nearly all MAGA voters. However, women, including those who identify as Republican, tend to express greater worry about inflation and the rising cost of living. Their concern is often more focused on household finances and the affordability of essential goods. Male MAGA voters, while also highly concerned with the economy, may frame their focus more broadly in terms of national economic strength, trade deals, and job creation in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Immigration: Immigration is a cornerstone issue for the MAGA movement. However, it often resonates more intensely as a top priority for conservative Republican men. For this group, concerns about border security and the perceived cultural and economic threats of illegal immigration are paramount. While female MAGA voters also largely support stricter immigration policies, it may rank slightly behind immediate economic concerns for some.
Social and Cultural Issues: Male MAGA voters are often more vocal and absolute in their opposition to “woke” culture and evolving gender identities. They are more likely than their female counterparts to believe that society has gone too far in accommodating different lifestyles and that traditional values are under assault. Female MAGA voters share these concerns but may also be focused on issues related to education and parental rights, seeking to counter what they see as liberal indoctrination in schools.
National Security and Foreign Policy: While both genders within the movement support an “America First” approach, there is less specific data on nuanced differences in foreign policy views. Generally, the MAGA movement is characterized by a more non-interventionist stance, a view shared by both men and women who are weary of foreign entanglements.
In summary, the male MAGA voter is more likely to be driven by a desire to reclaim a perceived loss of status and to prioritize the fight against cultural shifts and illegal immigration. The female MAGA voter, while sharing many of these sentiments, often places a more acute emphasis on immediate economic anxieties affecting her family and may be navigating a more complex set of motivations that align with a desire for security and traditional social structures.

Words that Mobilize

Reaching an audience that feels resentment requires using language that validates their feelings and speaks to their specific grievances. The keywords and phrases below are categorized to target the different facets of this powerful emotion.
Category 1: Core Emotional States & Feelings
This category includes words that directly or indirectly describe the feeling of resentment itself.

• Direct: Grievance, bitterness, indignation, grudge, fed up, had enough.
• Indirect: Frustrated, angry, ignored, forgotten, left behind, disrespected, unappreciated, undervalued, taken for granted.
• Victimhood: Wronged, cheated, betrayed, sold out, stabbed in the back, let down, persecuted.
  Category 2: Perceived Injustices & Rigged Systems
  These keywords tap into the core belief that the individual is not failing, but the system is failing them.
• Systemic Fairness: Rigged system, the game is rigged, unfair advantage, double standard, hypocrisy, not a level playing field.
• Broken Promises: The establishment failed us, broken promises, they lied to us, sold us out, the American dream is dead.
• Economic Hardship: Jobs shipped overseas, globalization, forgotten middle class, economic decline, the rich get richer, can’t get ahead.
  Category 3: The “Us vs. Them” Framing
  This is a powerful way to create a sense of shared identity by defining a clear in-group (“us”) and a source of problems (“them”).
• The In-Group (“Us”): The silent majority, the common man, real Americans, the forgotten man/woman, everyday people, patriots, hardworking taxpayers.
• The Out-Group (“Them”): The elite, coastal elites, the establishment, the swamp, deep state, globalists, insiders, politicians, mainstream media, experts, Hollywood.
  Category 4: Narratives of Decline & Restoration
  These phrases evoke a sense of a better past that has been lost and a desire to reclaim it.
• Decline: Losing our country, not the country I grew up in, values are eroding, out of control, going in the wrong direction.
• Restoration & Action: Take our country back, drain the swamp, fight back, time for a change, make it great again, common sense revolution.
  How to Use These Keywords:
• Validation: Start by acknowledging the feeling. Phrases like “Are you fed up with a rigged system?” or “Do you feel like the elites have forgotten you?” directly address the sentiment.
• Identify a Common Enemy: Frame the problem by pointing to a “them.” For example, “For too long, the establishment has ignored hardworking Americans.”
• Offer a Solution: Position your message as the way to fight back or restore what’s been lost. “It’s time to fight for the forgotten man” or “Let’s bring back common sense.”
  Using this language can be highly effective for reaching and mobilizing an audience driven by resentment because it speaks directly to their worldview and validates their sense that their problems are the fault of external forces.

Words that Help

The approach for “bringing someone back” from resentment is fundamentally different from simply “reaching” them. Reaching them involves validating their grievance, while bringing them back requires acknowledging their pain while guiding them toward a more constructive and empowered mindset.
The goal is to shift their focus from past grievances and external blame to future solutions and personal agency. You are essentially building a bridge away from resentment.
Here are the keywords and a strategic framework for this process.
The Core Shift in Strategy

• From “Us vs. Them” → to a “We/Us Together” Frame: You must dissolve the in-group/out-group dynamic.
• From Blame → to Responsibility & Agency: Shift the focus from who is at fault to what can be done.
• From Validating the Enemy → to Validating the Feeling: Acknowledge their frustration is real without agreeing with the specific target of their blame.
  Category 1: Keywords for Acknowledgment & Empathy (The Bridge)
  This is the crucial first step. You must make them feel heard, but with careful, neutral language. The goal is to validate the feeling, not the entire narrative of blame.
• Acknowledge: I hear you, I’m listening, I understand, that makes sense, I can see why you feel that way.
• Validate the Emotion: Frustration, disappointment, feeling let down, concern, worry, difficult situation, tough spot.
• Empathetic Phrases: “That sounds incredibly frustrating.” “It takes a lot to deal with that.” “You’ve been put in a difficult position.”
  AVOID using their specific blame-oriented keywords (like “rigged,” “elites,” “betrayed”). Instead of, “Yes, the elites betrayed you,” try, “I can see how you feel let down by the way things have turned out.”
  Category 2: Keywords for Common Ground & Shared Goals (The “We”)
  This is where you begin to pivot from their isolation to a sense of shared purpose.
• Shared Values: Community, family, security, a better future, stability, opportunity, fairness, respect.
• Shared Goals: What we all want, common ground, finding a way forward, working together, what’s best for everyone, building something better.
• Inclusive Language: We, us, our community, our kids’ future, together.
  Example Phrase: “I think we both want the same thing at the end of the day: a secure future for our families and a community we can be proud of.”
  Category 3: Keywords for Agency & Empowerment (The Path Forward)
  Resentment thrives on a sense of powerlessness. The antidote is to shift focus to what can be controlled and what can be built.
• Solutions-Oriented: Solutions, practical steps, what can we do, the next step, finding a path.
• Constructive Action: Build, create, fix, improve, contribute, support, help, get involved.
• Personal Agency: Taking control, making a difference, our role, our responsibility, what we can influence, real impact.
  Example Phrase: “Given how frustrating things are, what’s one practical step you think we could take to start improving things in our own community?”
  The Conversational Flow: A 3-Step Process
• Acknowledge and Listen (Category 1): Start by using the language of empathy. Let them voice their frustration. Actively listen and reflect their feelings back to them using neutral terms. “It sounds like you’re really disappointed and concerned about the direction things are going.”
• Find the “We” (Category 2): Gently pivot to shared values. “I’m concerned too. I think we all are. We all want to feel secure and believe there’s a fair shot for everyone.”
• Pivot to “What Can We Do?” (Category 3): This is the final and most important step. Shift the conversation from the problem to a potential solution, no matter how small. “Instead of focusing on who to blame, what if we focused on what we can build? What does a real solution look like to you?”
  By using this approach, you guide the conversation away from the circular logic of resentment and toward a more hopeful, empowered, and collaborative mindset. You don’t dismiss their feelings; you redirect the energy they generate.

WEP by:EZorrillaMc.

Google&GeminiSourced