Psychiatrist Neil McLaren explains a biocognitive model he developed that links human behavior with political dynamics. The starting point is the assumption that, beyond basic survival needs, humans possess additional drives, including social bonding, territoriality, fear of strangers, and the pursuit of dominance. These factors promote the formation of groups and lead to tribalism. Particularly central is the drive for dominance, which is biologically reinforced by the release of testosterone and experienced as rewarding. This principle appears in many areas of life, such as sports, education systems, and the economy, where competition and hierarchies prevail. As individuals rise within such hierarchies, their sense of entitlement and privilege increases, which can lead to ever-expanding claims to power.
At the international level, the model interprets political conflicts as an expression of this human drive for dominance. States do not primarily act due to systemic constraints but because their actors strive for power while simultaneously rejecting subordination. This creates a fundamental tension between the desire to dominate and the refusal to be dominated. Conflicts such as those in Ukraine or the Middle East are thus seen as resulting from attempts to control other groups, while those groups resist. Historical and contemporary examples, including expansionist foreign policy demands or colonial mindsets, are interpreted as expressions of deeply rooted beliefs in superiority, reinforced by national narratives and propaganda.
According to this perspective, political and economic systems specifically favor individuals with strong power drives and narcissistic traits, as hierarchical structures particularly attract those seeking influence. Competitive mechanisms lead to more unscrupulous actors rising more frequently, while less power-oriented individuals are pushed out. This dynamic can be observed down to the local level and shapes political cultures worldwide. Historically, phases of relative stability have consistently ended with increasing inequality, for example through economic policy shifts since the 1970s. Proposed countermeasures include stronger limits on power accumulation, a more conscious approach to competitive thinking, and alternative political selection methods such as random citizen participation, for example allocating a portion of parliamentary seats by lottery for limited periods.