It’s been a long time since we’ve rid ourselves of the idea of demonic possession. Centuries of innovation have delivered us from an undertow of superstition and placed a universe of knowledge in the palms of our hands.
Still, another demon crouches in the depths of the modern psyche. This modern devil spoils the mind with what Carl Jung called “ideological possession.” Ideological possession is when someone becomes more attached to an idea than they are to the real world. Ideologically possessed people believe they have the true vision of the “Greater Good.” Thus, they consider themselves justified in imposing their idea on others.
The democides of the 20th Century came at the hands of institutions pushing toward a “better” world. It’s easy to assume we’ve outgrown this cultural adolescence. Yet, the flame of ideological possession has met its perfect accelerant.
The Science of Modern Possession
Ideologically possessed people promote their views through a combination of virtue-signaling and confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is our impulse to cherry-pick information that supports our position. People do this by ignoring anything that contradicts their view and interpret ambiguous information as “proof” of it.
Digital media makes this behavior easier and more rewarding. Our brain releases a chemical called dopamine in anticipation of novel experiences or the achievement of a goal. This causes our brain to interpret a “like” or positive comment on social media as it would a hug from a loved one or a friend. Dopamine also gives video games, social media, and even pornography their addictive quality.
The problem is that the reward system of our brain is not the part that’s responsible for critical thinking. It can’t tell the difference between social media, video games, pornography, and their real-life counterparts. Thus, digital technology creates a petri dish for emotionally appealing ideas. These ideas have not been tested against the non-negotiable laws of cause and effect.
The Problem of Our Age
Before digital technology, ideologically possessed people were scattered all over the world. They would sometimes form groups and move to remote locations and build societies like the Heaven’s Gate cult. But, digital media allows ideologically possessed people to form online echo chambers and ignore “outsiders.” The result is an ideological “pyramid scheme,” where bad ideas become a social currency for reinforcing the shared ideology.
This is how digital media platforms give unproven ideas the social fuel to survive and thrive. On its own, a bad idea is harmless. The moment it becomes emotionally intoxicating, it can blaze a trail around the world.
Every idea starts as a hypothesis. Sometimes we test these ideas against the non-negotiable laws of cause and effect. If we can prove an idea beneficial and just, it becomes a part of the human story. When an idea is discredited, we certainly should revise or discard it. But, sometimes the idea persists. This happens when the idea is irresistible to a vulnerable mind.
Since irrational, self-absorbed, obsessive delusions can become emotionally intoxicating, even intellectually adept people get trapped in the psychological roach hotel of ideological possession. This is the real pandemic of our time. In the decades to come, it will prove to be the greatest problem of our age.
The Solution – Exorcising Our Demons
Solving the problem of our age starts with rethinking literacy. For centuries, civilized people dreamed of a more literate world. They lived under the tyranny of those who limited their access to knowledge. While digital media has solved most of this problem, it has also redefined literacy.
The illiterate of the 20th Century were people who couldn’t read and write. The illiterate of the 21rst Century are those who can’t discern between good ideas and bad ones. Today, our fear of an uninformed world is being replaced with the fear of a misinformed one. We fear a world where anyone can prop up ideas that have not proven to be beneficial and just.
It’s been so long since we’ve rid ourselves of the idea of demonic possession, it’s easy to scoff at the idea. But what’s the difference between a bad idea and a true devil? What is the price to the possessed, and to their victims? That will depend on whether we can outsmart the devils that we have now summoned.
Mass ideological possession is a complex problem. It won’t be solved by fact-checking, content regulations, or a list of “how to…” bullet points. It starts with redefining literacy as “the ability and the motivation to distinguish good ideas from bad.” This goes beyond critical thinking. It will take a commitment to mastering our impulse to believe in things that feel right, but are not.
Seth is an author, freelance copywriter, and Harvard Certified Neuroscientist. He is known all over the world as a thought leader on the topics of Persuasive Copywriting and Practical Axiology. Seth’s professional experience includes 15,000 hours of direct response copywriting and 10,000 hours of one-on-one counseling. He also holds degrees in philosophy, music theory, and developmental psychology. Since 2009, Seth has ghostwritten and edited hundreds of books on the topics of leadership, cognitive behavior therapy, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking.
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