Chances are you’ve had an encounter with an emotional predator — whether you’re aware of it or not. Most everyone is familiar with the physical abuser: typically the man who beats his wife or female partner. But emotional abuse, and psychological abuse, are also integral components of abuse and are often present with, and precursors […]
Emotional blackmail is a manipulative tactic used by individuals to exert control and undue influence over others by exploiting their emotions, fears, and vulnerabilities. It typically involves the use of threats, guilt, negative emotions, and other influence techniques to pressure someone into complying with the manipulator’s demands or desires. Forms of emotional blackmail Emotional predators […]
If the state of mental health care is even more nonexistent than the state of health care in this country, then emotional health care is even further behind. Emotions are almost considered an afterthought in modern society — it’s rare to talk openly about them, even sometimes amongst close friends. It’s difficult territory for communication, […]
Relation to: Erving Goffman — the Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) behavioral economics — Kahneman & Tversky et al decision sciences marketing PR entertainment drug addiction self-worth; psychology ketman Arlie Hochschild — The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling Jay MacLeod — Ain’t No Makin’ It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low Income […]
Considering your thought patterns and style of interacting with the world, which set of personality traits seems to characterize you more: Internalizer Externalizer Believe it’s up to you to change things Expect others to do it for you Mentally active; love to learn things Impulsive and reactive; take action before thinking about things, to blow […]
Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that occur when arguments are constructed or evaluated. They are deceptive and misleading, often leading to false or weak conclusions. Recognizing and avoiding logical fallacies is essential for critical thinking and effective communication. These flaws in rhetorical logic can be observed aplenty in modern political and civil discourse. They […]
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business A Summary and Review of Neil Postman’s Prophetic Analysis Neil Postman’s 1985 masterpiece, “Amusing Ourselves to Death,” stands as one of the most prescient cultural critiques of our time. Though written specifically about television’s impact on American public discourse, its insights have only […]
Meme Wars: How Digital Culture Became a Weapon Against Democracy In their groundbreaking book “Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America,” researchers Joan Donovan, Emily Dreyfuss, and Brian Friedberg offer a chilling examination of how internet culture has been weaponized to undermine democratic institutions. Far from being a distant […]
Pathocracy is a relatively lesser-known concept in political science and psychology, which refers to a system of government in which individuals with personality disorders, particularly those who exhibit psychopathic, narcissistic, and similar traits (i.e. the “evil of Cluster B“), hold significant power. This term was first introduced by Polish psychiatrist Andrzej Εobaczewski in his work […]
The concept of “flying monkeys” is a term that originates from popular culture, being invented in the 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” — where the Wicked Witch of the West employs winged monkeys to carry out her malevolent deeds. It was much more broadly popularized by the 1939 film […]
The “lizard people” conspiracy theory is one of the more fantastical narratives that have found a niche within modern conspiracy culture. This theory suggests that shape-shifting reptilian aliens have infiltrated human society to gain power and control. They are often depicted as occupying high positions in government, finance, and industry, manipulating global events to serve […]
The Psychology of Sadism: Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature In the pantheon of human psychological traits, few are as unsettling β yet fascinating β as sadism. While the term often conjures images of extreme criminal behavior or medieval torture chambers, the reality is both more nuanced and more pervasive than most people realize. […]
Critical thinking is a disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. It involves questioning ideas and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. It requires curiosity, skepticism, and humility to […]
The Echo Chamber of Deceit: Right-Wing Media Outlets, Disinformation, and the Conspiracy Industrial Complex In an era where truth is increasingly under siege, disinformation has become a weapon of mass confusionβand no faction wields it with more fervor than the vast right-wing media machine. From fringe conspiracy theorists lurking in dark corners of the internet […]
Disinformation is more than just false informationβitβs a calculated effort to deceive. Unlike misinformation, which spreads by accident or ignorance, disinformation is crafted with precision to manipulate public opinion and sow confusion. Its architects in the right-wing media ecosystem and elsewhere often exploit existing dividesβpolitical, social, or culturalβusing these cracks in the foundation of society […]