by engaging in physical violence. By their own account,
   violence is for them a form of "liberation." In other words, by
   committing violence they break through the psychological restraints
   that have been trained into them. Because they are oversocialized
   these restraints have been more confining for them than for others;
   hence their need to break free of them. But they usually justify their
   rebellion in terms of mainstream values. If they engage in violence
   they claim to be fighting against racism or the like.
   
   31. We realize that many objections could be raised to the foregoing
   thumb-nail sketch of leftist psychology. The real situation is
   complex, and anything like a complete description of it would take
   several volumes even if the necessary data were available. We claim
   only to have indicated very roughly the two most important tendencies
   in the psychology of modern leftism.
   
   32. The problems of the leftist are indicative of the problems of our
   society as a whole. Low self-esteem, depressive tendencies and
   defeatism are not restricted to the left. Though they are especially
   noticeable in the left, they are widespread in our society. And
   today's society tries to socialize us to a greater extent than any
   previous society. We are even told by experts how to eat, how to
   exercise, how to make love, how to raise our kids and so forth.
   
  THE POWER PROCESS
  
   
   
   33. Human beings have a need (probably based in biology) for something
   that we will call the "power process." This is closely related to the
   need for power (which is widely recognized) but is not quite the same
   thing. The power process has four elements. The three most clear-cut
   of these we call goal, effort and attainment of goal. (Everyone needs
   to have goals whose attainment requires effort, and needs to succeed
   in attaining at least some of his goals.)