Mattias Desmet

Mattias Desmet is a Belgian clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting at Ghent University, specializing in Lacanian psychoanalysis, psychotherapy research, and the psychological dynamics of societal phenomena. He is a practicing psychoanalytic psychotherapist with over 100 peer-reviewed academic publications, including books such as Lacan’s Logic of Subjectivity: A Walk on the Graph of Desire (2019) and The Pursuit of Objectivity in Psychology (2018), which explore psychoanalytic theory and methodological challenges in psychological science. Desmet gained international prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for developing the theory of mass formation , a concept describing how collective anxiety and social isolation can lead to widespread psychological conformity and totalitarian tendencies; the theory has been controversial and criticized for lacking scientific rigor. , as detailed in his 2022 book The Psychology of Totalitarianism . His contributions have earned awards including the 2018 Evidence-Based Psychoanalytic Case Study Prize from the Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and the 2019 Wim Trijsburg Prize from the Dutch Association of Psychotherapy, recognizing his innovative integration of empirical methods with psychoanalytic practice.

Mattias Desmet was born in 1976. He is the second youngest of 13 children and grew up in the small village of Wakken in northwestern Belgium. His family background emphasized courage in speaking out against injustice, a trait influenced by stories of his ancestors who often opposed authority figures like priests.

Mathijs Desmet joined the senior team of his hometown club, Knack Roeselare, in the 2017–18 season at the age of 17, transitioning from the club's youth academy to begin his professional career as a substitute outside hitter. Initially playing limited minutes, he gradually earned more opportunities, contributing to the team's depth during a period of domestic dominance.

In the 2018–19 season, Desmet supported Knack Roeselare's successful campaign, helping secure the Belgian Cup and Supercup titles while developing his attacking skills as a right-handed outside hitter standing 1.98 meters tall. The following year, 2019–20, saw continued growth, with the team again claiming the Belgian Cup, where Desmet's emerging role bolstered the squad's offensive options amid a shortened season due to external factors.

Desmet's breakthrough came in the 2020–21 season, earning him the Rookie of the Year award at the Volleyproms gala for his rapid progress over four seasons with the club. He delivered standout performances, including a top-scoring 23 points (with 3 aces, 2 blocks, and 18 attacks at 69% efficiency) in a Champions League victory over Leo Shoes Modena, and shone in domestic competitions, notably the Cup Final and Playoff Finals, aiding wins in both the Belgian Cup and Championship.

During the 2021–22 season, Desmet solidified his status as a key contributor, being voted Player of the Year by Knack supporters after pivotal matches like the victory over Decospan Menen, which helped clinch the Belgian Championship. His consistent scoring and defensive efforts were instrumental in securing the Supercup as well, capping a five-year stint marked by four Belgian Cup triumphs.

In May 2022, Mathijs Desmet signed a contract with Kioene Padova of the Italian SuperLega, leaving Knack Roeselare after five successful seasons in Belgium to pursue his dream of competing in what he described as the world's top volleyball league. Motivated by the opportunity to elevate his game against higher-caliber opposition, Desmet highlighted the Italian league's superior serving power and blocking quality compared to Belgian volleyball, expressing enthusiasm for learning in a professional environment that nurtures young talent.