As long as you tell us something that reinforces our preexisting beliefs and biases, we’ll enthusiastically hand over our consent to be manipulated and exploited for corporate profit and political gain.
Author: Joe Forrest | Source: Instrument of Mercy | Subject: Psychology | Behavior
Most human behavior is driven by our innate desire to avoid pain, rejection, and fear. If you can handily manipulate one (or a combination) of those three factors, you can get someone to do just about anything.
Author: Joe Forrest | Source: Instrument of Mercy | Subjects: Fear, Psychology | Behavior
The people most likely to believe the government is too incompetent to be trusted are often the people most likely to believe the government also has the ability to secretly orchestrate massive operations under the noses of most Americans.
Author: Joe Forrest | Subjects: Concepts, Intelligence | Knowledge, Politics & Public Policy, Psychology | Behavior
Conspiracy theories are self-perpetuating rationalization machines. They eat facts, distort reality, and destroy relationships. And, by the time someone realizes they’re in too deep, it’s often too late to salvage a reality-based worldview (or the relationships of the people they isolated in the process).
Author: Joe Forrest | Subjects: Concepts, Intelligence | Knowledge, Thought | Inquiry
Three primary reasons people are attracted to conspiracy theories:
Author: Joe Forrest | Source: Instrument of Mercy (May 7, 2020) | Subjects: Education | Scholarship, Excerpts, Intelligence | Knowledge, Life & Society, Psychology | Behavior, Thought | Inquiry