#86 - Hive Mind Paralysis & How We Break Free

I"m back. Because silence isn"t an option right now. In this episode, I share how graduate study / critical inquiry into leadership and social psychology is helping me make sense of an upside-down world. Groupthink, aka hive mind, isn"t just a "culty" thing. Conformity happens everywhere along the political spectrum. I speak to how unspoken "display rules" keep us from speaking up, then make the argument that Democratic leaders in Washington desperately need to ditch cultural etiquette in order to demand accountability. I also share J. W. Brehm"s theory of reactance, which can help us to better understand friends and family members on the MAGA/MAHA right who continue to double down on misinformation. Bombarding them with actual facts will likely backfire, and I tell you why. Lastly, and most importantly, I talk about pluralistic ignorance - what it is & why understanding it is absolutely essential in the fight against fascism. Self-regulation works great for peace of mind, but it can operate like a sort of pathology when it keeps us from protecting one another and demanding justice. Referenced in this episode:The Social Animal, by Elliot AronsonInfluence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert CialdiniWhat is Group Think? Online PM CoursesMy two-part interview w/ Aimee Van AusdallConspirituality Brief: Antifascist Woodshed 2 (Punching Nazis?)Keep Going Together - Facebook Community led by Susan McCulley Support the show The stories and opinions shared in this episode are based on personal experience and are not intended to malign any individual, group, or organization. Join The Deeper Pulse at Patreon for weekly bonus episodes + other exclusive bonus content. Follow The Deeper Pulse on IG @thedeeperpulse + @candiceschutter for more regular updates.