When watching the evolution of the relationships between the conservatives/liberals in this video, I thought about a modern day replication of the famous “Milgram” shock experiment.
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https://twitter.com/us_the_story/status/1884279155786932287
The primary take-away from the Milgram experiment generally focused on obedience to authority.
But one important variable in the experiment was that the participants of the experiment were disconnected from the person they thought they were hurting.
They did not know or see the person they were harming.
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But one important variable in the experiment was that the participants of the experiment were disconnected from the person they thought they were hurting.
They did not know or see the person they were harming.
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Circling back to the present state of American politics....
....it would be interesting to replicate the Milgram experiment with conservatives instructed to shock a liberal, & vice versa.
An added twist:
Have the instructions/orders given by specific political/media figures that have a strong influence over them.
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....it would be interesting to replicate the Milgram experiment with conservatives instructed to shock a liberal, & vice versa.
An added twist:
Have the instructions/orders given by specific political/media figures that have a strong influence over them.
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It is not inconceivable.....at least in some cases....
....that political tribalism and hatred of each other would produce a replication of the Milgram experiment results.
In fact, it’s very likely the results could be even more disturbing.
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....that political tribalism and hatred of each other would produce a replication of the Milgram experiment results.
In fact, it’s very likely the results could be even more disturbing.
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After watching the video, it’s difficult to imagine any of the six participants harming their ideological counterpart once they got to know each other.
Now, it may have been just as improbable that any of those six would have harmed anyone even without getting to know each other.
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Now, it may have been just as improbable that any of those six would have harmed anyone even without getting to know each other.
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But it isn’t a huge leap to conceptualize that some Americans participating in an experiment like this would not behave in similar ways as the original Milgram participants (who had no preconceived, specific animus toward their perceived victim).
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How many MAGA would continually press the shock button with increasingly levels of voltage if they were told a Black Lives Matter supporter/liberal was on the receiving end of the electric shock?
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How many liberals would continually press the button with increasingly levels of voltage if they were told a MAGA/Trump voter was on the receiving end of the electric shock?
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It’s important to remember that humans are a species of animals.
And it’s even more important to understand that the two strongest animal instincts are the survival instinct, and the instinct to pass down our genes through our offspring (protect our children).
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And it’s even more important to understand that the two strongest animal instincts are the survival instinct, and the instinct to pass down our genes through our offspring (protect our children).
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Basically, if people are put in a position where they fear for their safety or their children's safety, similar to other animal species, they will commit violent/inhumane acts towards other people.
This is why psychological warfare (foreign and domestic psyops) is so effective, and, also, so dangerous.
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This is why psychological warfare (foreign and domestic psyops) is so effective, and, also, so dangerous.
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The more that people view other people as a threat to themselves and to their children (or children, in general)…….
....the more the animal instinct to self-preserve and to protect surfaces……
....and the more it gives the outward appearance of “evil”…..
....or pathology (narcissism, or even sociopathy: reckless disregard for others).
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....the more the animal instinct to self-preserve and to protect surfaces……
....and the more it gives the outward appearance of “evil”…..
....or pathology (narcissism, or even sociopathy: reckless disregard for others).
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Eventually, the wounded/painful thoughts/feelings….
....escalate to hurtful/painful comments….
....which eventually escalate to hurtful/painful actions/violence. Rinse and repeat….
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....escalate to hurtful/painful comments….
....which eventually escalate to hurtful/painful actions/violence. Rinse and repeat….
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This is the result of a collectively experienced, trauma feedback loop that exists in this country, and is magnified in the political “theatre of war”…..
.…where hurt people…..hurt other people:
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.…where hurt people…..hurt other people:
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As the video demonstrates....
....one of the most effective ways of mitigating our negative beliefs about each other is functional exposure to people that we fear, hate....
....or that we believe are malicious, evil, stupid, lazy, or lacking values.
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....one of the most effective ways of mitigating our negative beliefs about each other is functional exposure to people that we fear, hate....
....or that we believe are malicious, evil, stupid, lazy, or lacking values.
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https://x.com/us_the_story/status/1884279155786932287
I recently analyzed an something I've observed for years: The cognitive distortions and defense mechanisms that we “coach” out of clients in therapy……
....are essentially “coached back into” people when they consume toxic political rhetoric.
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....are essentially “coached back into” people when they consume toxic political rhetoric.
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https://x.com/Nick_Carmody/status/1881035867042594847
The thread itemized 15 cognitive distortions and defense mechanisms that are particularly relevant to dysfunctional political consumption/discourse.
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https://x.com/Nick_Carmody/status/1881022989908484397
A cognitive distortion is an exaggerated thought process that’s not based on facts.....
.....and causes people to either view things more negatively than they really are, or to believe negative things about their world that are not necessarily true.
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.....and causes people to either view things more negatively than they really are, or to believe negative things about their world that are not necessarily true.
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For example, look at this partial list of cognitive distortions......
.....and then think of how they surface repeatedly in political thinking/discourse/behavior:
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.....and then think of how they surface repeatedly in political thinking/discourse/behavior:
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Cognitive distortions are intentionally used to demonize each other, and to distort the values and motivations of our political enemies.
This is by design because if bad faith actors can convince their followers that:
The other tribe does not have the same values….
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This is by design because if bad faith actors can convince their followers that:
The other tribe does not have the same values….
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....the other tribe does not want the same/similar things for their families & the country….
....the other tribe does not love this country….
....then it’s easier convince their followers to embrace extremism….which eventually leads to violence (the modified Milgram experiment)
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....the other tribe does not love this country….
....then it’s easier convince their followers to embrace extremism….which eventually leads to violence (the modified Milgram experiment)
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If bad actors can define people’s political enemies as “evil”....
....then they are less likely to work towards a common goal, or even co-exist together…..
....because by working together, they are complicitly perpetuating “evil”.
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....then they are less likely to work towards a common goal, or even co-exist together…..
....because by working together, they are complicitly perpetuating “evil”.
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A recent example:
Within the first 30 seconds of his speech at TPUSA, Steve Bannon defined bipartisanship as a “malignant cancer”:
“The political class is infected with a malignant cancer….that cancer is bi-partisanship”.
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Within the first 30 seconds of his speech at TPUSA, Steve Bannon defined bipartisanship as a “malignant cancer”:
“The political class is infected with a malignant cancer….that cancer is bi-partisanship”.
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Let’s dissect Bannon’s comment.
Bannon is promoting/inciting extremism. Here’s why/how:
Bi-partisanship is the antithesis of extremism. Bi-partisanship is usually the result of compromise.
Bi-partisanship/compromise is the byproduct of moderation.
In order to come to an agreement somewhere in the relative “middle”.....it means that both ideological parties have “moderated” from the extreme positions/demands of their ideological poles.
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Bannon is promoting/inciting extremism. Here’s why/how:
Bi-partisanship is the antithesis of extremism. Bi-partisanship is usually the result of compromise.
Bi-partisanship/compromise is the byproduct of moderation.
In order to come to an agreement somewhere in the relative “middle”.....it means that both ideological parties have “moderated” from the extreme positions/demands of their ideological poles.
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Compromise results when a diverse country of people......that often have varying, or even competing interests agree to give-and-take......in recognition that you cannot get/have everything you want.
Although this is frustrating for Americans.....it involves the implicit understanding that although “I” may not get everything I want......the process actually protects “me” from other people getting everything they want (potentially resulting in “me” not getting anything “I” want).
Moderation is also a sign of maturity.
Moderation is the awareness and understanding that “I” can’t have everything I want.
Young children struggle to understand this initially, but eventually accept that they can’t everything they want, and learn to share as they mature.
Unfortunately we live in a time where maturity is in short supply (due to the election of pathologically immature leaders).......and when it does exist, it is condemned by people like Bannon who…..as I explained above when discussing cognitive distortions/defense mechanisms….
....condition people to think and act on unhealthy emotional/psychological impulses that parents/mental health professionals have taught/coached out of people since their childhood.
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Although this is frustrating for Americans.....it involves the implicit understanding that although “I” may not get everything I want......the process actually protects “me” from other people getting everything they want (potentially resulting in “me” not getting anything “I” want).
Moderation is also a sign of maturity.
Moderation is the awareness and understanding that “I” can’t have everything I want.
Young children struggle to understand this initially, but eventually accept that they can’t everything they want, and learn to share as they mature.
Unfortunately we live in a time where maturity is in short supply (due to the election of pathologically immature leaders).......and when it does exist, it is condemned by people like Bannon who…..as I explained above when discussing cognitive distortions/defense mechanisms….
....condition people to think and act on unhealthy emotional/psychological impulses that parents/mental health professionals have taught/coached out of people since their childhood.
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Now think back to liberal black woman and the conservative man in kitchen (8:00 minute mark):
“I personally feel like if we were in the Senate we could work together….to come to a common understanding….for the greater good….you and I could probably change the world…”
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“I personally feel like if we were in the Senate we could work together….to come to a common understanding….for the greater good….you and I could probably change the world…”
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