Folie à Deux in the 21st Century: QAnon and the American Dream Delusion

Authors

Gordon A. Crews, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Christina S. Bentch
Garrison A. Crews, Marshall University

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to use the concept of folie à deux (or shared delusion disorder) to examine the phenomena of “Q” and the “QAnon” movement in the 21st century. The insurrection which occurred on January 6, 2021 during the attack on the United States’ capitol, drew the authors’ attention to try to understand the reason for this mass violence and to determine what individuals, motivations, and beliefs brought this violence to life. The allegory of Plato’s Cave is used by the authors to offer the reader a context to place the current increasingly bizarre claims and conspiracies that those following the QAnon espouse. Moreover, a discussion is presented of why these beliefs are so attractive to some and how difficult it is to get one to leave the movement.

Comments

Copyright © 2021, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Original published version available at http://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-4957-5.ch005

Recommended Citation

Crews, Gordon A.,et al. "Folie à Deux in the 21st Century: QAnon and the American Dream Delusion." Mitigating Mass Violence and Managing Threats in Contemporary Society, edited by Gordon A. Crews, et al., IGI Global, 2021, pp. 75-84. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-4957-5.ch005

Publication Title

Mitigating Mass Violence and Managing Threats in Contemporary Society

DOI

10.4018/978-1-7998-4957-5.ch005