Social and Personality Psychology Compass 7/8 (2013): 513–525, 10.1111/spc3.12045 An Other State of Mind is Possible: Anarchism and Psychology Jamie Heckert * Anarchist Studies Network Abstract When order is presumed to rely upon centralised authority, anarchy is assumed to mean violent chaos. However, anarchists have long argued, and demonstrated, that other forms of order are both possible and beneficial: ecologically, socially and psychologically. While anarchism has been influential in the development of psychology and is currently being taken up in related disciplines, with the exception of Dennis Fox’s body of work, anarchism has yet to be taken seriously in contemporary psychology. Drawing on anarchist, poststructuralist and feminist theory as well as personal experience, this paper offers an introduction to anarchism as not only a public social practice but also an inner state of mind. This is offered in contrast to the state of mind which underpins the state as institution. The statist state of mind is characterised by representation over and above direct experience, an attraction to domina- tion and control, and a continual reliance on fear. An other state of mind, necessary for and produced by anarchist(ic) social relations, is characterised by vitality (freedom–equality), non-attachment to memory, and love. Such a state of mind, I argue, is cultivated through (spiritual) practice internally and through free, equal and loving relations with others. Such nano- and micro-level processes networked together potentially result in macro-level anarchist social relations more commonly asso- ciated with anarchist thought. Introduction Anarchism is perhaps the most challenging of political philosophies. Arguing that institutions such as the State, the Market and other forms of hierarchy and domination are not only harmful to human beings and the wider ecosystem but also unnecessary, anarchism is fre- quently villainised by those attached to those institutions or to a cynical view of human na- ture. When order is presumed to rely upon centralised authority, anarchy is assumed to mean violent chaos. However, anarchists have long argued, and demonstrated, that other forms of order are both possible and beneficial: ecologically, socially and psychologically. Indeed, ger- minal figures in the history of psychology have been greatly influenced by anarchism. One hundred years ago, anarchist Otto Gross wrote of “the inestimable future of psychoanalysis as the very soul of tomorrow’s revolutionary movement” (cited in Heuer, 2004:160). More recent figures include co-founder of Gestalt Therapy Paul Goodman (1997), psycholinguist Noam Chomsky (2005), community psychologist Seymour Sarason (1982) and humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow (1971) who called for intellectuals to engage seriously with the anarchist tradition. This call has been taken up in recent years with the blossoming of scholarship work becoming known as Anarchist Studies. While growing strong in the related disciplines of politics and philosophy, geography and anthropology, anarchist theory and prac- tice have yet to become visibly influential within the field(s) of psychology, with the notable exception of figures such as Dennis Fox (e.g., 2011a). Critical psychology draws inspiration from across disciplines perhaps working to heal the 19th century split of psychology from phi- losophy necessary for it to become a discipline of control (Fox, 2012). Anarchism, too, is known © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd