Negative niche construction: Erich Fromm, social media and embodied necrophilous cognition
Abstract
A significant contributor to the rise in populism and authoritarianism has been the alteration in modes of interpersonal relations brought about by the increasing mediation of social relations by social media scaffolds. Using 4E cognition’s concept of niche construction and Erich Fromm’s social psychology we argue that social media functions to form and gratify necrophilous personality types attracted to populism, authoritarian leaders and political violence.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Social Representations and Identity
Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
Embodied and Extended Cognition
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Psychosocial Studies
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 134–139
- Publication date
- 5 January 2026
- Language
- EN