Why do so many people believe in political lies, even when they’re proven false?
Or why some are drawn to conspiracy theories like moths to a flame? The answer might surprise you, and it’s deeply rooted in the power of language and its influence on our brains.
The question
Recently I read a very thought-provoking article by Marcel Danesi. A renowned Professor of Semiotics and Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Toronto, he researched the power of language in politics and how this can be used… and abused, using cognition and our neural pathways.
Why, he questions, do some people cling to political lies even when faced with the truth? And why do these people, peddle conspiracy theories? The answer lies within the intricate connection between language, thought, and our brains.
The findings
Danesi’s findings are riveting. He unveils how populist politicians, including Hitler, Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, and Vladimir Putin, to name a few, effectively used and continue using language to develop a cult-like following. How do they divide nations? How do they create culture wars, and instil hatred?
The pattern
These politicians tap into our primal fears, awakening the ‘survival’ instinct in our brains. They choose their words with precision to whip unsuspecting audiences to ignite a raw emotional frenzy that can be exploited. These politicians lead their victims to actions, with results well planned in advance, hidden from public view. These actions could be assaulting the Congress in Washington or Brasilia, or they could be designed to justify the military invasion of a neighbouring country. ‘We must defend German speaking poles’ (Poland 1939), ‘We must defend ethnic Germans in Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia 1938), ‘We must protect Russian minorities in Georgia (Georgia 2008). We must defend Russian-speaking Ukrainians’ (Ukraine 2023). What does this tell you? The pattern should be a warning.
This technique of using language to manipulate has proven highly effective in rallying support and creating a sense of unity among followers — an ‘us versus them’. Once populist politicians manage to exploit people’s fears, they awaken the ‘survival’ mode in their brains. At this point, anyone, educated or not, can be easily ‘conditioned’ to act and behave against their own best interest. Remember the Brexit campaign in the UK?
How to spot them
Populist politicians use outrage, worry and fear to craft emotional and vague rhetoric, that tends to be rich in half-truths and poor in detail.
If you listen carefully, at this point you might want to ask yourself, who really benefits from sowing division in our communities? How do they benefit from sowing fear, angst and worry in our minds? What’s their ultimate goal? What do they want from you? Making you feel, worried, upset… fearful? Why?
Your options
So here’s the crux: understanding this linguistic manipulation is your shield.
Recognising these patterns is our first line of defence. It’s imperative that we hone our critical thinking, dissecting the messages that bombard us to stay vigilant, be informed and be in control of our own minds and emotions.
More on this issue coming soon.
#Politics #Language #CognitiveScience #CriticalThinking #Emotion
