Have you found yourself wondering why the unreal suddenly seems to be the new real? Conspiracy theory themes are viewed by many as the gospel, and the truth matters not a bit. “Leaders” justify their apparently irrational choices any way they can, and the rhetoric is widely accepted. The seemingly dwindling segment of the population that places truth and doing the right thing front and center, is increasing living with shock and dismay. Welcome to the Era of Unenlightenment!
Despite the vast amount of information readily available via the Internet, which theoretically should support enlightenment, we are moving in the opposite direction. This conundrum appears to arise from three mutually reinforcing pillars:
Pillar number one: suspension of critical thinking. Evaluating information in a questioning fashion, with analysis, and informed interpretation, greatly assists in distinguishing the real from the unreal. For critical thinking to transpire people must be willing to acquire information from more than one, perhaps several, credible sources, and then weigh the merits of the different perspectives. With the rise of social media, many people appear to struggle with more than one very abbreviated source of information. Once you stop reading (or never started), critical thinking is near impossible. For example, vaccines cause autism and other diseases. The autism perspective was based on one study that has since been discredited, the reasons why requiring some reading. Instead, many people have accepted it as the truth, and social media feeds from unreliable sources made to appear credible, bolster the unenlightened perspective. Once a person starts looking at these brief social media feeds, others reinforcing the distorted perspective are presented based on how social media algorithms work. No critical thinking transpires throughout this process, ensuring an erroneous conclusion.
Pillar number two: cognitive distortions. A significant portion of my research has focused on psychological defense mechanisms, and in the peer-reviewed article, Psychological Defense Mechanisms: A New Perspective, I proposed that our two major defense mechanism templates consist of positive cognitive distortions and dissociation. Regarding the former, good mental health is characterized by self-supporting spins, such as, “I did not do well on that test because the teacher asked questions on topics that were not to be included.” Mental illnesses, namely depression and anxiety, are characterized by negative cognitive distortions, such as, “I did not do well on that test, because I just don’t have the intelligence to cut it.” People commonly distort things in a way that is easier for them to process mentally; it is all about the spin as advertisers know very well. If critical thinking is engaged and robust knowledge acquired, then more complex perspectives are comfortable, but what happens when critical thinking is suspended? Overly simple spins then become the easiest choice. Science, as in its purest form of the pursuit of true outcomes, is highly relevant. From what I have observed the general level of scientific knowledge is incredibly low, possibly abysmal, not surprising when significant reading is required to understand the nature of things. Additionally, the orientation to pursuing true outcomes is painfully low, even for many who work in areas where critical thinking is important. Take my own area of mental health, where discrete conditions such as major depression and minor depression are the norm, when evidence supporting this discreteness is very weak and evidence supporting mental health conditions being on continuums, such as from low to high depression, is very robust. Many professionals and researchers in mental health disciplines digest the discrete condition perspective hook, line, and sinker, and are not interested in absorbing even peer-reviewed articles showing why the discrete perspective is false. In the absence of critical thinking and the research necessary to become fully informed, the spin, “Since the powers that be as in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders maintain that there are discrete conditions, that is what must be.” Sad, but apparently true. Discrete entities are easier to process mentally and proponents distort reality to see what is most comfortable. In the widespread scenario of virtually no science knowledge, and certainly no adherence to the pursuit of true outcomes, spins like, “Covid is not real,” “Vaccines kill and are just for drug company profits,” Vaccines cause autism,” “Global warming is not caused by human activity,” are ironically more comfortable as they are understandable, and certainly compared to the science of newer vaccines and viruses, and global warming. Interestingly, the degree of cognitive distortion inherent in many conspiracy type beliefs is to the high end of the spectrum, abutting and even overlapping with psychotic thought content!
Pillar number three: Greed. People are naturally somewhat more focused on their own welfare, than that of others, and resource acquisition is part of this evolutionary-derived process. However, the emphasis on wealth accumulation seems to be off the Richter Scale. It brings to mind the Gordon Gekko character in the first Wall Street movie, his greedy actions shocking the other characters and audiences. Then in the sequel no one is shocked, and he comments that everyone is drinking from the same (greed) well. Interactions between the three pillars of unenlightenment play a role in this rampant greed, as we noted for suspension of critical thinking and cognitive distortions: when a person is so focused on wealth acquisition, critical thinking often has to be suspended and supportive cognitive distortions ramped up. For example, “My having billions of dollars does not short-change the poorer segment of the population,” and “I deserve this money given what I have achieved, and it almost certainly trickles down to the poor!” Ideal cognitive distortions for sleeping well at night, and not doing the right thing. Even the population at large oddly enough seems to support this wealth entitlement, suspending critical thinking about offshore tax havens and the shadow economy (which is actually clear and not in the shadows), that maintains the inequity. People even spin it in positive ways, such as “America is the land of opportunity, and I might one day have many houses, cars, and yachts!” Not likely, as it takes money to make money.
Enlightenment, in terms of having knowledge and understanding, must be front and center of positive progress for all, and the true pursuit of true outcomes. Unfortunately, there is not much hope for such an outcome in this era of unenlightenment, and yes, this is a negative cognitive distortion, and one that many of those who care are feeling. For my part, I will continue to pursue true outcomes in my research and broader perspectives, engage critical thinking, and resist cognitive distortions that reinforce greed and the era of unenlightenment. I encourage you to do the same.