The Erosion of Identity: Crowd Psychology and Conformity in Omar El Akkad's American War

Abstract

Sarat Chestnut's transition from an individual to a symbol of resistance is the main topic of this study. The study aims to examine the psychological implications of conformity and the collapse of individual identity in Omar El Akkad's novel  American War. According to the idea, crowd participation causes psychological changes that are bolstered by group dynamics, which leads to the loss of moral agency and individual autonomy. The study follows up how leadership, group dynamics, and societal influences affect individual’s identity. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach to integrate philosophical, psychological, and sociological perspectives. Drawing from Sigmund Freud's group psychology, Gustave Le Bon's crowd theory, Friedrich Nietzsche's critique of "herd mentality," Immanuel Kant's ethical theories, and Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist notions of "bad faith". The results show that trauma, charismatic leadership, and pressure to fit in cause Sarat's identity to be undermined as she absorbs the Southern rebels' collective philosophy.