The polarization that we are experiencing has generated a series of “a la carte manifestos” that have been gaining more or less followers and more or less detractors. It is not weird. In turbulent times we cling to anything that gives us a sense of security – no matter how minimal or irrational.
Our opinions become more extreme in an attempt to shed clarity and certainty on a chaotic world. We forget colors and see everything in black and white. We rush to draw conclusions and subscribe to the “good side.” But all this generates a danger: hordes of people “drugged” with ideas.
The terrible addiction that some ideas generate
Ideas are usually not good or bad per se. An idea that may have been great and functional at one time may no longer be so later. An idea that seemed fantastic to us when we were 20 may not seem so great to us when we are 40. Just as people change, so do society and culture, so clinging to certain ideas can lead to a kind of “intoxication” of thought.
The mind becomes “intoxicated” when it does not leave room for new ideas. When it closes itself to what is different and hides behind a TRUTH with capital letters while denying everything that does not coincide with its vision.
The mind becomes “intoxicated” when it leaves no room for dialogue and burns the bridges of understanding. When you feed the same addictive ideas over and over again, ruminating on them ad nauseum while ignoring other perspectives, sinking deeper and deeper into a state of motivated ignorance.
As with addictions, extreme and rigid ideas can cause a narrowing of consciousness and interests. The person “drugged with ideas” becomes obsessed with these beliefs, does not see beyond them, loses perspective and begins to label all those who do not share them as enemies.
As with addictions, these extreme ideas cause an irascible attitude. They deactivate logical thinking and affect the ability to connect with everyone who is not part of that select group. These types of ideas create an increasingly narrow circle around us, which is why they end up limiting our development as people and as a society.
When ideas go one way and reality goes the other
Ideas – even the best ones – when taken to the extreme and self-reinforcing within an echo chamber, end up distancing us from reality. These people, just like addicts, end up living in a parallel mental world. They become increasingly locked into self-referential thinking that does not take note of the facts.
In the rare moments of lucidity in which they come into contact with reality – which is usually varied, uncertain and changing – this realization is too painful for them. Then, just like addicts, they resume their mental discourse with more force. They take refuge in their ideas and seek the support of other followers to confirm that they are not wrong.
They fall into confirmation bias. But far from realizing it, they wallow in an ideological quagmire made up of increasingly deformed beliefs that distance them from balance and from reality itself. Of course, the Internet – and social networks in particular – amplify this phenomenon since they create silos in which people feel comfortable because they receive information that reinforces their ideas and share space with people who belong to their group.
Obviously, in the long run, people “drugged” on ideas end up becoming a problem, both for themselves and for others. Any forma mentis that does not take reality into account, ignores the facts and is closed to change, is condemned to be maladaptive.
How to recognize and leave addictive ideas behind?
Above all, we must learn to recognize that there are ideas with greater “addictive power.” These are fundamentally beliefs that share a series of characteristics:
- Simplism. They tend to offer “clear” answers and simplistic solutions to complex problems, which is why they do not take into account the multidimensionality inherent to the phenomena.
- Dualism. These types of ideas promote a polarized view of the world. They reduce reality to a black and white picture, without nuances. They only present two options: right or wrong. Either you are with me, or you are against me. There are no middle terms.
- They transmit security. They often take the form of certainties that resist considering alternative points of view, thereby conveying an illusory security in an uncertain world.
- Intense emotionality. They generally activate and are nourished by intense emotions – such as fear, anger or hatred – that prevent us from thinking clearly and assessing the relevance of the discourse they hide.
- Moral exclusivity. In most cases, addictive ideas generate a feeling of moral superiority that makes those who share them feel good since they increase their self-esteem, making them believe that they have the absolute truth and those who think otherwise are wrong.
Finally, to escape the influence of these addictive, simplistic and extremist ideas, we must be able to understand that reality is complex and uncertain. Staying attentive to changes, instead of clinging to stereotypes and fixed ideas, is what will allow us to respond better and adapt.
If we are not able to develop that tolerance and mental flexibility, it is likely that our societies, as we know them, will degenerate again, as has happened in the past. Ultimately, history repeats itself until we learn the lesson.
