A plea for democracy from a psychological perspective

Democracy is under pressure worldwide. In a recent post, I expressed my concern about whether the democratic constitutional state is in good hands with the new Dutch government. For a long time, I had the impression that many people thought and understood that democracy was good. But in personal conversations, I have noticed in recent years that people find it difficult to give specific and substantiated answers to the question, “Is a democracy better than a dictatorship, and if so, why?” I think it would be useful to consider the psychological benefits that democratic systems offer compared to autocratic regimes.

Benefits of democracy

In an earlier post, I quoted Max Roser, explaining that democracies have historically been less prone to violent conflict, weathered economic crises better, and offered a higher standard of living to their citizens. Democracies promote transparency and accountability, which reduces corruption and makes policies more responsive to the needs and wishes of the population.

Democracy as a foundation for human well-being

Democracy is not just a political system; it is a foundation for human well-being and psychological satisfaction. Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT) and insights from previous research, I argue that democracy is superior to autocracy from a psychological perspective.

The importance of basic psychological needs

Self-determination theory has shown that people have three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Knowledge about this can be useful for parenting, training, and management. But also for state structure and national administration. To determine how well things are going in a country, it is important to look at objective factors such as access to healthcare and education, as well as psychological factors. Research by Martela et al. (2022) shows that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness is a stronger predictor of subjective well-being than socio-economic and demographic factors. These findings highlight the importance of fulfilling psychological needs for people's well-being.

Democracy and basic psychological needs

The satisfaction of basic psychological needs is important for well-being. Democratic systems facilitate this satisfaction through political freedom, participation, and social justice.
In the table below, I show important differences between the effects of democracy and autocracy on the three basic psychological needs.

Inequality and psychological well-being

Research shows that socio-economic inequality has negative effects on both individual and collective well-being. Democracies, with their emphasis on the equitable distribution of resources and social safety nets, contribute to higher levels of psychological well-being. People in democratic societies experience less stress and have greater satisfaction with their lives due to a fairer system of income distribution and social support. Studies show that democracies tend to promote more egalitarian societies, leading to less inequality and a higher quality of life for their citizens.

Legitimacy and compliance

The legitimacy of laws and regulations is crucial for individuals' compliance and autonomous motivation . Democratic systems, based on transparency and participation, create a sense of justice and acceptance among citizens. This promotes the willingness to comply with laws and contribute to the well-being of society. Autocratic regimes, on the other hand, rely on external control and coercion, which leads to resistance and undermines autonomous motivation. When citizens experience the laws and rules as legitimate and fair, they are more inclined to comply with them voluntarily. This strengthens social cohesion and trust in the government, which is crucial for a stable and healthy society.

Conclusion

The psychological perspective emphasizes the essential advantages of democratic systems compared to autocratic regimes. Through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, the promotion of equality, and the legitimacy of laws, democracy contributes to the overall well-being and satisfaction of individuals. At a time when democracy is under pressure, it is important to recognize that preserving and strengthening democratic values is not only a political imperative but also a fundamental contribution to human well-being.

► We will never achieve an ideal form of government. People will never be perfectly happy, either. But democracy offers a much better chance of all kinds of psychological and non-psychological benefits than autocracy. Let us work to protect and promote democracy, both for ourselves and for future generations.