Mental health experts explain the rise of Donald Trump

The appeal of Donald Trump is revealed.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Donald Trump's immense appeal has those who aren't swept up in the fervor scratching their heads and wondering what exactly they're missing. According to behavioral experts in psychiatry and psychology, however, there's a very simple reason why Trump is so popular right now — and it's all in your head.

David Berg, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, told The New York Times that people's instinctual fight or flight responses are triggered by perceived threats to their security such as "changing demographics, Wall Street greed, immigration […] ISIS, China, Russia."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.