Love and Hate

With the Covid-19 pandemic there have been contradicting and erratic behavior from individuals, governors and the president. Even though we lead the world in the number of cases and the number of deaths, not surprisingly, many take this virus seriously and too many take it less seriously. Sigmund Freud provided a psychoanalytic model of man. This essay applies the broad categories of Freud’s life and death instincts thereby providing insight into man’s rational and irrational Covid-19 behaviors.

Sigmund Freud has a comprehensive model explaining man’s psychodynamic mental functioning. Briefly, Freud originally postulated about the biological instinct Eros under the life preserving umbrella. Eros was related to life instincts, sexual gratification, genital love, the pleasure principle, reality principle, the creation of the family and the community, happiness, the necessity or compulsion to work, productivity and artistic creation. In other words, generally speaking, the self-preservation instincts were the driving force in man. Then, Freud experienced World War I with man driven by destructive cruelty. Freud, the scientist, wasn’t convinced that man’s destructive quality was adequately explained by Eros. As a result, Freud postulated a second biological drive-the death instincts or impulses that have been called Thanatos or destrudo. The death instincts, destructive instinct or death wish relates to man’s aggressiveness, sadomasochism, repetition compulsion principle, cruelty, hatred, murder, narcissism, sadistic and self-destructive and self- mutilation tendencies. In other words, this drive can be directed inward toward self or outward toward another or object. These two instincts interact with and against each other. Thus, they may fuse, neutralize each other, replace one another which results in many combinations of effects. In essence, as man develops he proceeds towards his death.

Our country leads in the number of guns, murders, aggression towards spouse and children, and incarceration rates. We also spend the most money on defense far exceeding other countries. We have weapons of mass destruction and have the best fighting force in the world. This means we have better trained killers than anyone else. With tax breaks and subsidies to the fossil fuel industry we are racing and expediting toward the destruction of our planet. One might argue that our country is rapidly heading towards destruction and death.

Currently, the United States has over 850,000 Covid-19 cases and about 45,000 deaths and these numbers are rising. These numbers far exceed the number of Covid-19 cases in other countries. For example, we have more cases confirmed than Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Turkey combined and more deaths than Spain and Italy combined. Let’s give gratitude to individuals like Bill and Melinda Gates, Mike Bloomberg, Anthony Fauci and to the many scientists and researchers in our country and all over the world. They work round-the-clock to come up with a vaccine or cure for Covid-19. There are numerous organizations and agencies like CDC and the World Health Organization that also deserve respect and gratitude for their service. Scientists from other countries have also shared their knowledge about this deadly virus with ours.

Do not forget all the doctors, nurses, technicians and other allied medical personnel also in this fight. They put their health at risk daily. Even past retirees have entered this fight. There are countless workers in the food industry that also put their lives at daily risk so we can have food available. There are many that deserve our thanks. We know that there are not enough PPE equipment, ventilators, all forms of testing and other medical supplies currently available. However, this does not stop them or impede their efforts to help others. We can help the process by staying away from others and making our own facemasks to reduce the contagion risk. Furthermore, there are number of governors like   Jay Inslee, Gretchen Whitmer, Andrew Cuomo, Larry Hogan, Gavin Newsom and other elected officials that have put in place social distancing, shutting down state parks, requiring facemasks etc.   These many individuals in the fight against Covid-19 suggest by their character the drive for self-preservation.

In contrast, we have others that express oppositional behaviors suggesting a different character development with emphasis on aggression for the death instinct. When traveling to the market or pharmacy, there are many that wear a facemask and a number who don’t. Driving down the road, there are many who seem to ignore social distancing and do not wear a facemask. On television, there have been scenes of the numerous people congregating and not wearing a facemask while either visiting a Florida beach or other venues.

This past week there have been protests against social distancing orders rising up from many parts of the country. These white protesters, according to Yahoo News, carry non rational signs as well as firearms. These demonstrations have largely been organized by conservative activists. The Republican governor of Georgia announced that his state would be opening up fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, Hair and nail salons, and massage therapy businesses on Friday followed by theaters and restaurants on Monday, April 27. The protest in Michigan was organized by the Michigan conservative coalition, a group cofounded by a GOP state representative and his wife. She’s on the advisory board for an official Trump campaign group. At another event, the promoter is a longtime political advisor to the Betsy DeVos family. These are just two examples of Trumps conservative Republicans. It doesn’t appear to matter that according to Yahoo news/you government poll, 60% of Americans oppose protest while just 22% support them. The same poll found that 71% respondents were more concerned about opening things up too quickly versus too slowly which is in line with other polls. In fact one state GOP Rep stated “Unfortunately some people have lost their lives to the virus. My heart goes out to every one of those people. My heart also goes out to the 1.5 million in Pennsylvania out of work. Equating death to being out of work is what?  Furthermore, some right-wing commentators and right-wing economists have urged Trump to reopen the country despite warnings by epidemiologists that it could result in a wave of additional infections and deaths and another potential wave this winter.

Unfortunately, one can ignore medical advice and exhibit behaviors that hurts self. There is no law that restricts one from eating or drinking too much. It is only against the law to commit suicide. Exhibiting or turning inward self-destructive behavior generally affects others as well. In the case of a virus easily transmitted, when one becomes contagious, one also can transmit the virus to others. Although one can’t yell “fire” in a crowded theater, there is no law or commandment that prohibits infecting others. Our healthcare workers and healthcare system do not need more to treat during the pandemic. In other words, these sadistic, lying and hateful individuals by potentially infecting themselves and others are also putting us and our health care system in jeopardy. The sadomasochistic character development and the displayed degree of aggression, in these individuals, is unhealthy and dominates the Eros life force of  care, protection, respect, assistance and nurturance with the result that it puts the rest of us in jeopardy.

Let’s take and use Washington, the state, as an example of life maintenance. On January 20, 2020 the first Covid-19 patient was diagnosed in Washington. These medical and health individuals in this state were prepared for this epidemic. They had earlier put in place procedures from A-Z in how they would handle a positive diagnosis individual. All individuals that came in contact with this patient had protective gear and covering. In essence, from pickup to hospitalization was handled appropriately as far as health procedures. Gov. Jay Inslee, Bill and Melinda Gates and Jeff Bezos were pleased and proud of their state government. Clearly, competent government with an Eros dominated personality can and does work.