Binary Thinking and its Blind Spots [Tribalism]
Humans crave the cognitive relief of simple answers.
Disclaimer
I personally do not advocate any process or procedure contained in any of my publications. Information presented here is not intended to provide legal or lawful advice, nor medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevent any disease. Views expressed are for educational purposes only.
I surround, protect, purify and make harmless the following in-formation.
The human brain
In “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” Arendt wrote that “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.”
Daniel Kahneman’s “Dual Process Theory” identifies two cognitive systems of the human mind: System 1 is fast, automatic, and emotional, where as System 2 is slow, deliberate, and logical. You can experience this right now: perform a true/false test and you’ll activate your System 1, perform a multiple-choice test and you’ll activate your System 2.
When the human mind is confronted with binary choices, System 1 handles the decision processing with its automatic emotional response, and it never gets any further analysis.
]The human brain is actually the muscle of the mind]. Doreen
Psychology and physiology
System 1 goes back to our most basic survival instincts, and it is good for processing binary choices such as fight/flight, edible/toxic, alive/dead, but it is not suitable for processing complex issues. This is what System 2 is for. And it is well known in today’s study of psychology that when the human mind is presented with only two options, the work automatically goes to System 1, and critical thinking is avoided.
The purpose for having these two cognitive systems, is efficiency. Once the brain recognizes a binary choice, it reduces cognitive load to a minimum by sending it to System 1. And when cognitive load is at a minimum, people are even more susceptible to external persuasion and group mind.
Binary world
The key to successfully controlling people is to keep them in this binary world so that their critical thinking is rarely, if ever, engaged. And this is best done by keeping them emotional. Both anger and fear will do the job. “With us or against us?” - “Patriot or traitor?” - “Support this policy or you want people to die!” are all binary choices used over and over again to keep people anchored in binary thinking, and render them blind.
Published experiments will tell you that when humans are reminded of their mortality, or of any existential threat, they will cling more tightly to their beliefs and their worldview, and become more hostile to those who challenge it. This is why political discourse uses apocalyptic language.
Attitude entrenchment
It is understood in psychology that people’s beliefs will strengthen when they are attacked, this is called “attitude entrenchment.”
Tribalism
The human mind is predisposed to categorize people into in-groups and out-groups, to favor in-group members and belittle out-group members in order to elevate their own in-group status. And it is known that it takes very little to activate this tribalism. Some experiments, have used a simple coin flip to steer people towards in-group acceptance. This innate human tribalism has been weaponized through politically constructed binaries that were designed to both divide people, and to make them see the world however the designers want them to.
Binary frameworks
In “Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes,” Ellul wrote that propaganda works best when it simplifies complex realities into binary choices, because humans crave the cognitive relief of simple answers. And that the most effective propaganda isn’t spreading lies, it is spreading binary frameworks that make certain conclusions appear inevitable.
Acceptance
This binary brainwashing has been going on for generations and for many people, political positions have become their identity. Their social belonging, self-identity, and status are built upon it. And for many, the discomfort of challenging one’s own beliefs and admitting error [psyops] is too much to handle. It is far more convenient to go with simple binary choices and move with the herd.
But if you have any desire for the truth, then you will have to learn to apply critical thinking to everything, and most importantly, learn how your mind is being manipulated.
Source https://gregreese.substack.com/p/binary-thinking-and-its-blind-spots
Without prejudice and without recourse
Doreen Agostino
Our Greater Destiny Blog
psychology
Hi Doreen,
Heartfelt thanks for your steadfast excellent work as a curator and guide. Let's keep these important conversations going . . . on into the night where we might worry about darkness. Yet, there is a powerful light inside the darkness. You are helping us remember / rediscover it.
You said, "]The human brain is actually the muscle of the mind]. Doreen" I find that the stuff of a human is a bit richer and, at times, dizzyingly multi-dimensional. Yet, for now, let's agree to exercise all of the muscles of our consciousness. Let's allow for some discomfort as we awaken to new abilities. Or, as we awaken and see new possibilities we might judge we're not up to the assignment. (I often do.) That's OK. As we self-assign these leaps of growth, we can remember that it is just fine to start with the smallest gesture of openness, of willingness.