Rock, Paper, Scissors
Rock vs. Paper…
…Sweet vs. Salty, Coke vs. Pepsi, North vs. South, Black vs. White, Trojans vs. Greeks, Left vs. Right, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, PC vs. Mac, Heaven vs. Hell, God vs. Satan, and Star Wars vs. Star Trek.
Go ahead, choose. Isn't it fun?
To go around picking one over the other, being part of something. There is something exhilarating about it while also comforting. Sheer certainty of one thing over another. It makes us who we are no? To reduce uncertainty, you reduce anxiety, so why not say, "Anyone who uses an android is a backwards idiot."
In fact, studies by Tversky and Kahneman on heuristics and biases highlight our natural lean towards certainty. They suggest that certainty reduces cognitive effort and simplifies decision-making. This preference for binary choices likely stems from our evolutionary need for quick decisions essential for survival.
I've always been fascinated by the idea that things must fit into specific categories. Nowadays, it feels like these extremes influence every part of our daily life, from politics to religion to education.
It's in front of our very eyes every second of the day, it lives throughout our TV screens, our social media, and through the context of every article we read. YET, when you touch the grass and communicate with people on the day to day, look them in the eyes, it seems almost non-existent.
So then, why has the rise of social media become such a prime platform for these ideas to grow and these thoughts to simmer?
Considering that the average internet user spends nearly 145 minutes a day on social media, as highlighted by Statista, it's an essential conversation to have. Much of our lives is spent on these apps, and whether we are aware of it or not, we engage in another complex version of our own lives in this virtual sphere. It's truly a cornerstone of human life in the 21st century.
That being said, it must be treated with the weight it holds. People underestimate how important their reputation is to them. YOUR reputation is everything; it is you. It dictates what comes to you and how people see your past. It is your power; do not take it lightly.
"It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than with a bad reputation." - Friedrich Nietzsche
A study by Corporate Responsibility Magazine found that 76% of professionals stated they would decline an offer from a company with a bad reputation, even if unemployed. Additionally, research from the University of Missouri found that one's online reputation can significantly Impact personal relationships and social connections. It's evident that reputation, especially in our digital age, holds immense influence over job prospects, personal relationships, and various other aspects of our lives.
While on social media, you are the painter of your reputation using apps such as Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc. as your canvas. Painting a depiction of yourself you want the world to see in a rather quick, easy, and digestible medium.
That being said, things that are usually quick & easy tend to be, how should I say this, bullshit.
Social media has paved the way for reputation building in a manner that, at times, requires minimal effort. Dare I say, it often demands very little, if any, true thought.
True thinking, or growth in any form, occurs when you have two opposing ideas or contradictory thoughts. You sit with them, battle them out, and grapple with the dissonance in your mind. This process leads you to an understanding derived from both perspectives. From there, you can craft your very own IDEA. Boom! At that moment, you've truly thought. You've forged something through the struggle of thought that wasn't there before. You are, as a result, a conscious individual rather than just a sheep.
What I've just described isn't easy. In fact, I'd argue it's bothersome. It diverges from our innate animalistic qualities that drive us to make quick decisions in the interest of our immediate survival or "reputation."
However, haven't humans evolved beyond such primal instincts? We no longer have to rely solely on animalistic responses to thrive. We possess a consciousness that paves the way for enlightened thought and innovative ideas.
So, why then do we continue this pattern? Why do we see some "social justice impetus" and blindly tag along or "repost" without genuine understanding?
A study by the Pew Research Center found that 59% of links shared on social media have never been clicked by the person sharing them, suggesting that many users disseminate content without truly delving into or understanding its contents.
No real thinking, no open discussion or socratic dialogue with the opposition. We merely follow the crowd. Why? Simply for the sake of FOLLOWING A CROWD. That's lazy, and above all, it's intuitive and animalistic.
By reposting that infographic, you're doing more than just carving out a niche for yourself within a group identity. Research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has found that the act of receiving 'likes' or positive feedback on social media releases dopamine—a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and satisfaction—activating the reward center of the brain.
With a mere repost, you've elevated your reputation. People can now perceive you as someone championing the righteous cause, standing up for "justice." Everyone yearns to be the protagonist in their narrative. Life becomes monotonous when experienced as a passive observer. Yet, with just a couple of clicks, you're suddenly seen as the "hero" you so greatly aspire to be.
What is potentially the right way to go about it then, you may ask?
I believe it's simple, not really, but we'll test it out.
In order for your thought, opinion, or belief to hold any merit, it must be tested. YOU must test it. The more struggle and opposition you engage in, the sharper and more credible your word will stand.
If you just listen to ideas you agree with and read things you believe, how can you reinforce any growth in thought?
You have to lean into the dissonance and really think. Go for a drive, take a walk, go ice skating. Give yourself the opportunity to sit with contradicting thoughts.
At the end of the day, we are all human. We have two ears and one nose, we drink the same water, breathe the same air, and defecate. We are all much, much more similar than different.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle
That being said, I challenge you to put your mind into the mind of the worst person you can think of. It can be a mortal enemy, a serial killer, a child rapist, etc. Put your mind in theirs. It's hard, isn't it? It's uncomfortable, isn't it? "I could never think like they do; they are monsters," you're thinking, aren't you?
Are they monsters, or are they just like you?
Never live your life as the judge, jury, and executioner of a group of humans, no matter how big or small. Once you label yourself as the judge and jury of them, you give yourself the free range to act as their executioner.
The main reason for mass shootings is because the perpetrators label themselves as legitimate judges of the human race and its flaws.
Several studies, such as those published by Dr. Katherine Ramsland in 'Psychology Today,' have delved into the psyche of mass shooters. They see themselves as rectifiers of perceived societal wrongs, taking it upon themselves to 'correct' these issues through violence.
We have evolved into conscious, complex creatures. The individual nature of each of us is so profound, so complex, it's unfathomable. Everyone, no matter how up or down, left or right, black or white, sweet or salty, has that pair of Scissors ready to beat paper and lose to rock.
Below, I have attached a list that encompasses a combination of cognitive, social, and psychological factors. These factors increase the tendency for people to view issues in an extreme manner and to oversimplify complex subjects:
Cognitive Simplification: The human brain is hardwired to identify patterns and to distill complex information for quicker processing. By categorizing information into straightforward binaries like good vs. bad or right vs. wrong, we utilize cognitive shortcuts known as heuristics. While these shortcuts enable swift judgments, they can also cause oversimplification.
Cognitive Dissonance: Experiencing conflicting beliefs or values can induce mental discomfort. To resolve this unease, individuals may gravitate toward an extreme viewpoint, minimizing internal conflict.
Group Identity and Tribalism: By nature, humans are social beings with a compelling urge to identify with, and conform to, the convictions of their "tribe" or in-group. This alignment can lead to polarization, prompting individuals to embrace the extreme views of their group and rebuff the perspectives of opposing factions.
Confirmation Bias: There's a prevailing tendency among people to actively seek out, recall, and assign more significance to details that affirm their pre-existing beliefs. Concurrently, they might neglect or trivialize contradicting information. This bias can further solidify extreme perspectives.
Media Influence: Today's media landscape, accentuated by the proliferation of social media, often champions extreme perspectives because they captivate attention and bolster engagement. The echo chamber effect—where individuals are predominantly exposed to conforming views—can intensify polarization.
Emotional Reasoning: Emotions occasionally steer reasoning rather than being influenced by it. If someone feels vehemently about an issue, they might perceive it in extreme terms since nuanced perspectives don't match their emotional intensity.
Lack of Education or Exposure: An inadequate education on a topic or an absence of exposure to a variety of viewpoints can yield an oversimplified comprehension of the matter.
Defensiveness: Embracing radical stances can serve as a defense against perceived threats or challenges to one's principles or identity.
Desire for Clarity: Amidst a multifaceted and unpredictable world, adopting a lucid, unambiguous viewpoint can offer a feeling of certainty and stability.
Fear: Particularly when magnified or manipulated, fear can propel individuals toward radical perspectives as they search for remedies to perceived dangers.
Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Science, 185(4157), 1124-1131.
Statista. (2021). Daily time spent on social media by social video viewers worldwide from 3rd quarter 2016 to 2nd quarter 2021. Statista. https://www.statista.com/
Roberts, T., & Dunbar, R. I. M. (2011). The costs of family and friends: An 18-month longitudinal study of relationship maintenance and decay. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(3), 186-197.
Gabielkov, M., Ramachandran, A., Chaintreau, A., & Legout, A. (2016). Social clicks: What and who gets read on Twitter?. ACM SIGMETRICS / IFIP Performance 2016.
Sherman, L. E., Payton, A. A., Hernandez, L. M., Greenfield, P. M., & Dapretto, M. (2016). The power of the like in adolescence: Effects of peer influence on neural and behavioral responses to social media. Psychological Science, 27(7), 1027-1035.
Ramsland, K. (2018). Inside the minds of mass shooters. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com