On Self-Censorship

article

Ira Brenner

Abstract

This essay pertains to the silent suffering of citizens living in a democracy as it deteriorates into the nightmare of a totalitarian regime. Unwitting complicity can accelerate this societal regression through the contagion of self-censorship. A recent group experience will illustrate such a process, which may begin in a subtle way. Once past the point of no return, however, those who suffer from the ultimate moral decay may express their conflicts in very disturbing dreams. Examples from The Third Reich of Dreams will be provided.

Keywords:

authoritarianism, conflict, conformity, contagion, moral decay, nightmares, political repression, pressure, psychic trauma, psychohistory, punishment, repression, self-censorship, shame, social, The Third Reich of Dreams, totalitarian

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About the author

Ira Brenner

Ira Brenner, MD, is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Sidney Kimmel Medical School at Thomas Jefferson University as well as Training and Supervising Analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He has a special interest in psychic trauma and has authored over 100 publications and six books. He can be contacted at .

How to cite this article

Brenner, I. (2026). On self-censorship. Clio’s Psyche, 33(1), 10-15.

https://doi.org/10.70763/45017f6511f91be700fda3d118034994