The Scroll and the Serotonin Hit
Like most of us, I scroll endlessly—chasing the quick hit of serotonin in a 30-second reel.
But sometimes, something longer catches my attention. Something educational. Recently, a YouTube video popped up:
Title: Why People Worship Corrupt Leaders – Nietzsche’s Dark Truth
Creator: Philosophy Coded
Date: May 18, 2025
I wasn’t drawn by the “corrupt leaders” angle but by a deeper philosophical question:
Why do we make decisions we know are against our own interests?
Nietzsche: A Brief Overview
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Born: 1844, Germany
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Focus: Preoccupied with the origin and function of human values
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Life phases: Before illness, during illness, and final years of demise
Nietzsche’s fascination with human fragility led him to question why people cling to systems, beliefs, and leaders—even when it harms them.
“…[Nietzsche] came to see Christianity as but one version of a deep-seated human tendency to respond to our sense of fragility… a world which possesses meaningfulness, coherence, and stability which the real world lacks.” – The Will to Power (2016)
In essence, humans seek a world that provides comfort, even if it’s illusory.
The Psychology Behind Our Decisions
According to Philosophy Coded:
“Humans don’t primarily seek happiness or pleasure, we seek control. We desperately want to feel that we understand our world and can navigate it effectively.” (2025)
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The desire for control can make us susceptible to anyone offering a share of their power.
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Psychologists Whitson and Galinsky (2008) found that lack of control increases illusory pattern perception, making us see order where none exists, believe in conspiracies, and justify false narratives.
Why We Admire Corrupt Leaders
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Nietzsche identified two moral frameworks:
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Master Morality: Values strength, achievement, dominance, and excellence. Good = power, Bad = weakness.
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Slave Morality: Values humility, empathy, equality, compassion. Good = humble, Bad = powerful.
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Humans often live in both frameworks simultaneously.
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We condemn immorality in everyday life yet admire rule-breakers, cheats, and leaders who defy norms.
Why?
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We secretly wish we could break moral constraints ourselves.
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Admiration becomes a reflection of our own suppressed desires.
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Nietzsche calls this “resentment”, the driving force behind revolutions, revenge, and admiration of the powerful.
Modern Validation: Politics and Resentment
Dr. Kathrine Cramer studied rural Wisconsin communities and their political choices:
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Finding: Residents felt cheated, despite receiving significant government support.
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Effect: Perceived injustice and resentment drove support for policies and politicians that objectively worked against their interests.
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Lesson: Resentment equals perceived power. Control over one’s environment, even through flawed leadership, can feel like vindication.
Nietzsche’s Core Message
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Nietzsche urges authenticity over blind obedience.
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Avoid following leaders or collectives out of fear, anger, or resentment.
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Focus on self-awareness, integrity, and creating your own values:
“Nietzsche challenges us to embrace Amoretti – a love of fate instead of seeking leaders who promise to rescue us from hardship.” (2025)
Reflection
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Our decisions are shaped by fear, perceived injustice, and desire for control.
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Admiration for corrupt power reflects our inner conflict between morality and suppressed desires.
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True freedom comes from understanding why we act, thinking critically, and staying authentic.
Closing Thought
Anger, resentment, and the desire for revenge are human. But each day presents a new opportunity to:
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Learn
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Explore
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Grow
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Make conscious choices aligned with integrity
“No one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but yourself alone.” – Friedrich Nietzsche