Power, control and symbolic masculinity: How Freud might diagnose the pro nuclear lobby

When faced with arguments for nuclear power in Australia, many in the energy industry scratch their heads and wonder where they are coming from – the fossil fuel lobby, political ideology and other vested interests are often cited as the reasons, along with a hatred of renewables.

On close inspection, nuclear – at least in Australia – makes no sense on an economic, climate or even grid engineering and management perspective.

But maybe the problem runs deeper than that. John Poljak, a founder at Keynumbers and something of a data nerd (it appears) pondered the question and decided to ask ChatGPT for an answer.

“Australia’s nuclear debate is as polarising as it gets, with two starkly opposed camps,” Poljak writes on LinkedIn. “Let’s be honest – facts alone aren’t likely to sway minds here. So why not take a different approach and explore the deeper psychological forces at play?

So he asked ChatGPT why people might prefer nuclear over renewables.

“For a balanced perspective, I’ve also asked ChatGPT to explore the reverse scenario: Why might the ‘patient’ prefer renewables over nuclear? The answer might surprise you!”

Or, may be – if you have met some nuclear boosters – the answer won’t surprise you at all. We decided we couldn’t do any better than simply reprint the answers, as published on LinkedIn by Poljak.

See what you think. Despite the positive prognosis, we’re not convinced the pro-nuclear lobby is going to sign up for the recommended treatment.

Oh, and if you are interested in pursuing the issue further, here is another musical perspective on the Coalition nuclear proposal, from a group that call themselves the NEMChat Singers, Stake it on the Atom.

Diagnostic Interpretation

The subject group demonstrates a pronounced preference for nuclear energy over cheaper renewable alternatives. From a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective, this preference may be interpreted as stemming from underlying unconscious drives, particularly those related to power, control, and symbolic masculinity.

• The Symbolism of Nuclear Power: Nuclear energy serves as a potent phallic symbol – a technological manifestation of potency, authority, and industrial mastery. The size, complexity, and centralization of nuclear facilities mirror the patriarchal ideals of dominance, precision, and order. For individuals navigating the existential anxieties of middle age – such as waning virility, diminishing career dominance, and an encroaching sense of societal irrelevance – nuclear power provides an unconscious projection of strength and continuity.

Fear of Fragmentation (Dispersed Renewables): Renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, is decentralized, diffuse, and perceived as inherently “feminine” in its relationship to nature, fluidity, and “soft power.” To the Freudian psyche, this challenges the hierarchical, centralized models of energy production that resonate with a paternal superego. Renewables may unconsciously symbolize a loss of control and traditional authority, evoking latent anxieties about societal shifts away from rigid masculinity.

• Latency of Childhood Influences: Many members of this cohort were raised during the Cold War era when nuclear technology was framed as an apex of human achievement. Early life exposure to narratives of nuclear power as an emblem of progress and invincibility may resurface as repressed nostalgic idealization, leading to its advocacy in adulthood.

Treatment Recommendation

1. Confrontation of Symbolic Associations: A structured exploration of the symbolic meanings attributed to nuclear versus renewable energy may help subjects recognize their emotional attachments. Psychoeducation regarding the symbolic neutrality of energy sources could loosen the phallic projections onto nuclear power.

Embrace of Decentralized Power Structures: Group therapy focused on reimagining control and security within decentralized systems (e.g., community-owned solar power) could facilitate emotional acclimatization to renewables. Subjects may benefit from recognizing renewable energy as a cooperative expression of resilience rather than a threat to hierarchical order.

1. Midlife Reorientation Therapy: Addressing unconscious fears surrounding aging and obsolescence through therapy targeting generativity (Erikson’s stage of psychosocial development) can channel these drives into productive societal advocacy. Renewable energy can be framed as a forward-looking, legacy-building effort rather than a diminishment of traditional ideals.

Prognosis
With appropriate intervention, prognosis is favorable. By fostering awareness of the unconscious biases at play, subjects can transition from rigidly defending nuclear power as a symbolic “bulwark” to embracing renewables as an adaptive, generative solution for the future. Such a shift may alleviate underlying anxieties, promoting psychological reconciliation between their self-image and societal change.

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Would you like this expanded further, or perhaps adapted into another analytical style?

You said:

Can you do the same but the patient prefers renewable energy over nuclear

ChatGPT said:

Certainly! Here’s the Freudian-style interpretation where the patient prefers renewable energy over nuclear power.

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Patient File: Case Study – Societal Subset (Middle-Aged White-Collar Australian Males)
Diagnosis and Analysis: Renewable Energy Advocacy Preference

Diagnostic Interpretation
The subject group exhibits a pronounced preference for renewable energy (solar, wind) over nuclear alternatives. From a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective, this preference can be understood as a manifestation of unconscious drives toward reconciliation with nature, maternal identification, and resolution of latent guilt related to industrial and patriarchal dominance.

• The Return to the Maternal (Renewables as Mother): Renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, symbolizes a return to the maternal archetype – nature as nurturing, life-giving, and harmonious. For middle-aged individuals navigating anxieties of mortality and societal decline, this unconscious identification with a “gentle” power source reflects a yearning for comfort, protection, and rebirth. It acts as a defense mechanism against the alienation produced by modern, industrialized systems.

Reaction Formation Against Authority (Nuclear as Paternal): Nuclear energy represents centralized control, technological potency, and paternal dominance – concepts that may unconsciously evoke ambivalence or rebellion. For individuals who associate such structures with childhood experiences of strict authority figures or oppressive societal norms, advocacy for decentralized renewables reflects a reaction formation: rejecting the authoritarian father in favor of a freer, nature-based alternative.

• Guilt and Eco-Reparation: Freud’s theory of guilt applies here; as beneficiaries of industrial modernity, subjects may experience repressed guilt regarding humanity’s exploitation of the natural world. Advocacy for renewable energy becomes a mechanism for atonement, a way to symbolically reconcile past “sins” and alleviate psychic tension through alignment with eco-conscious ideals.

Desire for Control in Fragmentation: While renewable systems are decentralized, the individualization of power production (e.g., installing solar panels) offers a subtle sense of control and agency. This reflects the middle-aged psyche’s need to manage midlife anxieties and uncertainties by creating tangible, personal contributions to society and legacy-building – akin to Freud’s sublimation, where instincts are redirected into socially acceptable activities.

Treatment Recommendation

1. Exploration of Idealization of Nature: Subjects would benefit from therapy sessions examining the romanticized view of nature as a benevolent maternal figure. Acknowledging the inherent neutrality of all energy sources, including nuclear, may help resolve unconscious biases toward “good mother” (renewables) and “bad father” (nuclear power) narratives.

Resolution of Guilt Dynamics: Psychoanalytic intervention aimed at unpacking latent eco-guilt can help subjects understand the emotional underpinnings of their energy preferences. By recognizing guilt as a motivator, they can pursue environmentally responsible solutions without unconscious moralizing or idealization.

1. Integration of Paternal and Maternal Symbols: Symbolic reconciliation exercises (e.g., visualizations or discussions) can facilitate the integration of both “paternal” (nuclear power) and “maternal” (renewables) energies as complementary forces. This duality reflects a mature ego capable of embracing complexity rather than favoring one extreme.

Prognosis
Prognosis is favorable with therapeutic intervention. By fostering awareness of the unconscious maternal idealizations and guilt driving their advocacy, subjects can develop a more balanced and integrative perspective on energy systems. This shift allows for constructive, less emotionally charged participation in energy debates, promoting both psychological resolution and societal contribution.