The Production of Mass Psychosis: How Manipulation and Isolation Fuel Delusion
The mysterious process by which mass insanity is created and accepted as normal remains elusive in a world where everyone is thought to be born with a clean slate. For demagogues, populists, and dictators who use the mechanics of manipulation to sway public opinion, this phenomenon has grown to be a potent instrument. People are more prone to the sneaky spread of delusion and the deterioration of critical thinking due to the influence of social media and the isolating aspect of modern living.
Every person is born with a blank slate, according to the idea of prenatal divinity. The mysterious mechanism that creates mass psychosis, normalizes craziness, and spreads accepted illusions is still a mystery. Demagogues, populists, and dictators who now hold positions of power or who are vying for them have started to use this insanity as a tool to their advantage because of the negative repercussions it has. Delusions that are subtly propagated make people susceptible and simple prey, much like youngsters under the sway of crafty demagogues or fascists. The ubiquitous impact of social media and the modern mechanical life’s isolation that people experience are the driving forces behind this phenomenon.
An ambitious person who has an unquenchable thirst for power will use deceptive strategies to reorganize and manage public opinion. This entails the nefarious practice of "menticide," the systematic manipulation of advantageous thoughts that intensify unfavorable feelings like dread and anger. Teenagers have been especially vulnerable to sublimation and manipulation because of their pliable emotional impulses. Falsehoods turn into facts, and illogic is portrayed as logic thanks to constant repetition of lies and the production of hype, evading the inspection of reasonable thought. The widespread use of smartphones, television, and the internet exposes people to a flood of propaganda, leading many of them to unintentionally fall under its sway.
People are constantly bombarded with misinformation, misleading stories, and alternative facts, which leaves little room for critical thought or inquiry. Due to people's desire for novel patterns and connections, the solitude of the modern day enhances this tendency. People find it difficult to recover from the effects of mentiocide, once they get burdened by it after being subjected to its relentless assault. As a result, multitudes enter a chaotic world of delusions and accept them as absolute facts. Psychological methods are intended to manipulate people's thoughts and are used to impose this abnormal order on them. Can the world possibly return to sanity in the face of such widespread insanity? There are currently no clear solutions to this serious problem.
The prognosis for sanity in an insane world becomes questionable as the ubiquitous effects of propaganda, false narratives, and alternative truths continue to overrun civilization. Psychological methods used to deceive and control minds make it difficult to return to reason, trapping people in a confusing world of delusions. To defeat mass psychosis, it takes a collective awakening, a recommitment to critical thinking, and a concerted effort. The possibility of returning sanity to a world that is increasingly delusory can only then begin to take shape.
The understanding of how deception, psychological tricks, and manipulation propagate delusion and undermine critical thinking in society can be furthered by using these Processes/terms:
Indoctrination:
The process of instilling individuals with particular views, concepts, or ideologies, frequently through methodical education or propaganda, in order to mould their thinking and behavior in accordance with a specified agenda.
Gaslighting:
A technique for psychological manipulation in which targets are led to doubt their own perceptions, recollections, or sanity, which makes them more open to being tricked.
Cognitive Dissonance:
The psychological discomfort brought on by having opposing opinions or values. It frequently appears when people come across information that conflicts with their preexisting ideas, leading to a mental effort to reconcile the discrepancies.
Confirmation Bias:
The propensity to ignore or minimize contrary evidence while looking for, interpreting, and remembering information in a way that supports one's ideas or biases.
Cult of Personality:
The situation in which charismatic leader manages to engender a strong devotion from their followers, frequently by manipulating emotions, leading to unflinching loyalty and obfuscating the distinction between reason and mindless obedience.
Echo Chamber:
a metaphorical environment, whether it be physical or digital, where people are surrounded by sources of information or like-minded persons that support their own views and attitudes, restricting exposure to opposing viewpoints and aiding in the reinforcement of biases.
"filter bubble:"
When people are exposed to information, news, and opinions that mostly support their own ideas, values, and preferences, this phenomenon is known as a "filter bubble." As technology advances, algorithms, and personalized content recommendations customize online interactions for specific people, resulting in virtual echo chambers. People are so frequently protected from different ideas, opposing arguments, and contradicting data. By escalating divisions and preventing critical thinking, filter bubbles can reinforce preexisting biases, limit exposure to opposing viewpoints, and contribute to the polarisation of society.
