Latest news with #Lemov
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Science
- New York Times
This Is Your Brain on Cults. You Probably Have Many Questions.
On the television drama 'Severance,' a sleek dystopian mood piece patently designed for Our Times, employees of a nebulous corporation volunteer to have their home and office selves psychically partitioned. A brain implant allows 'outies' to go on with the business of being a person in the world, blissfully ignorant of the classified work their 'innies' do in a bland, windowless facility five days a week, and vice versa. In the actual, unsevered universe we still live in, dissociation is not yet an elective outpatient surgery and mind control retains its status as a societal boogeyman, the stuff of Manchurian candidates and prison camps, death cults and Kool-Aid. That consciousness can be so pliable and vulnerable, so susceptible to outside forces as to turn itself against logic or values, is a proven bug in the human operating system. The hows and whys of it remain less understood, despite decades of anecdotal evidence and exploration. Not that a legion of medical professionals, research scientists and salacious limited streaming series haven't tried. The subject has also spurred a robust literary genre, to which two engaging if imperfect entries can now be added: 'The Instability of Truth,' by the Harvard historian of science Rebecca Lemov, and 'Blazing Eye Sees All,' by Leah Sottile, a podcaster and freelance journalist for outlets including Rolling Stone and The New York Times Magazine. Taken together, the books have a bit of a Goldilocks problem: Lemov's is thoughtful, well supported and perhaps unavoidably academic. Sottile's is easily the more accessible effort, full of wild anecdotes about lost continents and blue-skinned gurus; it can also be heedlessly loosey-goosey, light on corroborating facts and critical distance from its troubled subjects. 'The Instability of Truth' is set up not unlike a syllabus, beginning with American P.O.W.s in the Korean War and moving through notable case studies like Patty Hearst, the C.I.A.'s MK-ULTRA program, Facebook-feed algorithms and the rise of so-called crypto cults. A recurrent theme is public shame: The war veterans who converted to Communism were dubbed weak, amoral and unpatriotic; headlines positioned Hearst as a rich girl dabbling in radical chic, playacting revolution for kicks. That many of the P.O.W.s were beaten and starved and then fed a careful, relentless regimen of propaganda and coercive persuasion, or that Hearst was locked in a closet for 59 days and repeatedly raped, often did not rate mention in the accounts of their offenses. The consensus seemed to be that they had been given autonomy over their own minds and bodies, and failed miserably. To be fair, Lemov points out, the public and even dedicated specialists initially lacked the vocabulary that might have softened those judgments. Trauma as a causal root was still years away from mainstream currency, and deprogramming efforts proved both medically and legally murky, full of their share of pitfalls and charlatans. Though she offers vivid snapshots of individual cases and often interjects her own experiences in chatty, personable ways, Lemov's detailed analyses can read as somewhat weedy and dense for a layperson. Sottile, in contrast, wastes little time dangling the sensational Smurf-tinted bait in 'Blazing Eye Sees All': a Kansas-born mother of three and former McDonald's manager named Amy Carlson who came to call herself Mother God. Carlson claimed to be a 27,000-year-old refugee from the apocryphal land of Lemuria, subsequently reincarnated as Jesus, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc and Marilyn Monroe (among others) on her path to set humanity free. She also drank so much colloidal silver — a popular New Age cure-all — that her skin took on the dusky hue of an unrinsed blueberry. Mother God's belief system was an often incomprehensible mishmash of self-aggrandizing fantasy, conspiracy and light antisemitism; still, it spoke to an increasingly large audience of seekers and lost souls who were promised that her glorious ascent to a fifth dimension was imminent. (Viewers of the 2023 HBO docuseries 'Love Has Won' may know exactly how soon.) As Sottile recounts it, Carlson's story was part of a long lineage — or more of a matrilineage, from the proto-spiritualist Fox sisters, who in the mid-1800s used snaps and séances to reach the other side, to 20th-century mediums like the former prom queen J.Z. Knight, who channeled the stentorian spirit of an ancient warrior named Ramtha. Many of these self-styled sages claimed deep connections to 'lost' civilizations and espoused elaborate mythologies that touted specialized diets, supplements, 'angel numbers' and high-vibration colorways. A lot of them also enthusiastically embraced the material perks that their followers' fervent financial support provided, even as they grew increasingly paranoid and isolated from their flocks. More than once, Sottile floats the idea that New Age practices gave women voice and agency in a world where that is hard to find. It's a thought worth exploring, though one that also seems to let some uniquely harmful people off the hook: religious chicanery, the great feminist equalizer! A penchant for elisions and overbroad statements ('No one wants to be a God. Not really,' Sottile asserts at one point, after having spent some 250 pages methodically proving otherwise) also tends to mar an otherwise compelling and colorful read. The entertainment value is evident; the aftertaste is queasy and a little sad. Where both writers find consensus — other than the loony historical footnote of the former first lady Nancy Reagan's outsize fixation on astrology — is the essential humanity of their subjects, many of whom it would be too easy to put at a disparaging distance. On 'Severance,' the show's split characters eventually begin to uncover the more sinister aims of their supposedly benevolent employer, a mega-corporation whose arcane codes and credos hint at its own cultish leanings. The cognitive dissonance of that will surely be resolved, give or take a season, by some canny mix of science and screenwriting. But no one outside a TV show wakes up and says, 'I'd like to lose my mind today.' There are many ways to detach from perceived reality or even basic good sense, whether it's the Manson Family or a peer-to-peer marketing scheme that sells brightly patterned leggings, and not a lot of proven methods to get it back. The brain is a soft black box whose ideologies regularly tip toward extremes: Look no further than the diverse demographics of those who have come to furiously reject vaccines. (Hence the memorable designation of some of the fringier elements of New Age conspiracy as 'pastel QAnon.') Then again, maybe even the most passionate of those true believers will change their minds; it happens all the time.
CNN
31-03-2025
- General
- CNN
How to prevent doomscrolling from controlling you
What do modern social media users have in common with American soldiers who decided not to return to the United States after being held as prisoners of war in North Korea? More than you might think, according to one professor. We're all potential victims of mind control, according to Rebecca Lemov, a historian of science at Harvard University and author of the new book 'The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion.' The American soldiers were brainwashed into not wanting to go home through tactics including isolation, the fraying of social bonds and sleep deprivation, Lemov said. And she argues that the same things happen to many users of social apps, and it's awful for their mental health. After decades of studying brainwashing in situations including POWs, cults and torture, she's concluded that 'this is something to which we're all susceptible, and that we consistently underestimate our malleability.' But while social networks may manipulate our emotions, we can take steps to protect ourselves by drawing on lessons from her research. Social media affects users differently, Lemov noted, comparing it to some people's experiences in cults. 'What's a cult for one person may not necessarily have the same effect on someone else,' she noted. When one person who is recruited decides to go all in, another 'may get certain things out of it, but not decide to give over their life savings or things like that.' She said social media is the same way. It affects different people differently, perhaps partly because of past experiences. That's why, when we consume content online, it's wise to pay attention to how we're feeling. 'Social media really puts you in your head a lot,' she said. 'It's almost as if you're an entity without a body.' What to do about it: Lemov pays attention to her own reactions by meditating every day, which gives her a way to tune in to sensations in her body and how they change. If a particular type of content leaves someone feeling anxious or upset, that's a helpful signal to consume less of it and even block those who create that kind of online work. It's not just how different kinds of social media influence our emotions. Lemov said social networks may actively manipulate us. In 2014, Facebook revealed it had conducted an experiment without users' knowledge showing it could influence their moods. The platform showed some users more positive content and others more negative content, then examined the emotions those users conveyed in their later posts. Those shown more positive posts seemed happier, and those who saw more negative posts seemed less happy. 'It was almost like a proud announcement (by Facebook executives that they) have the capability to … tune emotions as if we had a volume control,' Lemov said, noting that the social network received a lot of backlash after its announcement. Spending time on social media can isolate people, and unlike with prisoners of war, it's ostensibly by choice. 'The more time is spent on social media, the less time is spent in social groups,' Lemov said, referring to clubs and bowling leagues that were more popular in the past. As a result, she said, people can miss out on developing social skills. Lemov said she thinks that spending more time on social media can explain why so many people are lonely. It's a Catch-22 situation: People who are lonely tend to use social networks more, according to a 2016 study. And the continued use of social media could make them lonelier. Being lonely is terrible for a person's mental health. One study conducted during Covid-19 lockdowns found loneliness was heavily associated with greater depression and thoughts of suicide. What to do about it: To combat what former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called an epidemic of loneliness, Lemov recommended challenging yourself to join groups that meet offline to socialize, whether it's a book club, a walking group, card game night, ultimate frisbee (or name your fun activity here). It doesn't even have to be that organized all the time. I like to remind my students that they can put their phones away and talk to the people next to them on the bus, at lunch and at social events. Then they'll have an opportunity to strike up conversations and sometimes true friendships. People who use social media more might also miss out on sleep — another thing that is essential to our mental health. Research has found that young people who use social media more tend to go to sleep later. Using smartphones in the middle of the night can also interfere with sleep. Not getting enough sleep is terrible for mental and physical health. Studies have found that sleep deprivation is associated with much higher anxiety and depression. What to do about it: Lemov recommended social media users work on what's called good sleep hygiene. I recommend my students leave phones outside their bedrooms when they go to bed for the night. Then it's easier to fight the temptation to stay up scrolling after bedtime or check the phone when waking up in the middle of the night, because the device isn't within arm's reach. Using social apps more can mean we spend less time socializing in real life and sleeping — both essential to our mental health. By making sure we realize how social media use affects us, spending time socializing offline and getting enough sleep, we can stay in control of our lives rather than letting social networks control us.
CNN
31-03-2025
- General
- CNN
How to prevent doomscrolling from controlling you
What do modern social media users have in common with American soldiers who decided not to return to the United States after being held as prisoners of war in North Korea? More than you might think, according to one professor. We're all potential victims of mind control, according to Rebecca Lemov, a historian of science at Harvard University and author of the new book 'The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion.' The American soldiers were brainwashed into not wanting to go home through tactics including isolation, the fraying of social bonds and sleep deprivation, Lemov said. And she argues that the same things happen to many users of social apps, and it's awful for their mental health. After decades of studying brainwashing in situations including POWs, cults and torture, she's concluded that 'this is something to which we're all susceptible, and that we consistently underestimate our malleability.' But while social networks may manipulate our emotions, we can take steps to protect ourselves by drawing on lessons from her research. Social media affects users differently, Lemov noted, comparing it to some people's experiences in cults. 'What's a cult for one person may not necessarily have the same effect on someone else,' she noted. When one person who is recruited decides to go all in, another 'may get certain things out of it, but not decide to give over their life savings or things like that.' She said social media is the same way. It affects different people differently, perhaps partly because of past experiences. That's why, when we consume content online, it's wise to pay attention to how we're feeling. 'Social media really puts you in your head a lot,' she said. 'It's almost as if you're an entity without a body.' What to do about it: Lemov pays attention to her own reactions by meditating every day, which gives her a way to tune in to sensations in her body and how they change. If a particular type of content leaves someone feeling anxious or upset, that's a helpful signal to consume less of it and even block those who create that kind of online work. It's not just how different kinds of social media influence our emotions. Lemov said social networks may actively manipulate us. In 2014, Facebook revealed it had conducted an experiment without users' knowledge showing it could influence their moods. The platform showed some users more positive content and others more negative content, then examined the emotions those users conveyed in their later posts. Those shown more positive posts seemed happier, and those who saw more negative posts seemed less happy. 'It was almost like a proud announcement (by Facebook executives that they) have the capability to … tune emotions as if we had a volume control,' Lemov said, noting that the social network received a lot of backlash after its announcement. Spending time on social media can isolate people, and unlike with prisoners of war, it's ostensibly by choice. 'The more time is spent on social media, the less time is spent in social groups,' Lemov said, referring to clubs and bowling leagues that were more popular in the past. As a result, she said, people can miss out on developing social skills. Lemov said she thinks that spending more time on social media can explain why so many people are lonely. It's a Catch-22 situation: People who are lonely tend to use social networks more, according to a 2016 study. And the continued use of social media could make them lonelier. Being lonely is terrible for a person's mental health. One study conducted during Covid-19 lockdowns found loneliness was heavily associated with greater depression and thoughts of suicide. What to do about it: To combat what former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called an epidemic of loneliness, Lemov recommended challenging yourself to join groups that meet offline to socialize, whether it's a book club, a walking group, card game night, ultimate frisbee (or name your fun activity here). It doesn't even have to be that organized all the time. I like to remind my students that they can put their phones away and talk to the people next to them on the bus, at lunch and at social events. Then they'll have an opportunity to strike up conversations and sometimes true friendships. People who use social media more might also miss out on sleep — another thing that is essential to our mental health. Research has found that young people who use social media more tend to go to sleep later. Using smartphones in the middle of the night can also interfere with sleep. Not getting enough sleep is terrible for mental and physical health. Studies have found that sleep deprivation is associated with much higher anxiety and depression. What to do about it: Lemov recommended social media users work on what's called good sleep hygiene. I recommend my students leave phones outside their bedrooms when they go to bed for the night. Then it's easier to fight the temptation to stay up scrolling after bedtime or check the phone when waking up in the middle of the night, because the device isn't within arm's reach. Using social apps more can mean we spend less time socializing in real life and sleeping — both essential to our mental health. By making sure we realize how social media use affects us, spending time socializing offline and getting enough sleep, we can stay in control of our lives rather than letting social networks control us.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How to prevent doomscrolling from controlling you
Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book 'Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back' was published in 2024 by Alcove Press. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky. What do modern social media users have in common with American soldiers who decided not to return to the United States after being held as prisoners of war in North Korea? More than you might think, according to one professor. We're all potential victims of mind control, according to Rebecca Lemov, a historian of science at Harvard University and author of the new book 'The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion.' The American soldiers were brainwashed into not wanting to go home through tactics including isolation, the fraying of social bonds and sleep deprivation, Lemov said. And she argues that the same things happen to many users of social apps, and it's awful for their mental health. After decades of studying brainwashing in situations including POWs, cults and torture, she's concluded that 'this is something to which we're all susceptible, and that we consistently underestimate our malleability.' But while social networks may manipulate our emotions, we can take steps to protect ourselves by drawing on lessons from her research. Social media affects users differently, Lemov noted, comparing it to some people's experiences in cults. 'What's a cult for one person may not necessarily have the same effect on someone else,' she noted. When one person who is recruited decides to go all in, another 'may get certain things out of it, but not decide to give over their life savings or things like that.' She said social media is the same way. It affects different people differently, perhaps partly because of past experiences. That's why, when we consume content online, it's wise to pay attention to how we're feeling. 'Social media really puts you in your head a lot,' she said. 'It's almost as if you're an entity without a body.' What to do about it: Lemov pays attention to her own reactions by meditating every day, which gives her a way to tune in to sensations in her body and how they change. If a particular type of content leaves someone feeling anxious or upset, that's a helpful signal to consume less of it and even block those who create that kind of online work. It's not just how different kinds of social media influence our emotions. Lemov said social networks may actively manipulate us. In 2014, Facebook revealed it had conducted an experiment without users' knowledge showing it could influence their moods. The platform showed some users more positive content and others more negative content, then examined the emotions those users conveyed in their later posts. Those shown more positive posts seemed happier, and those who saw more negative posts seemed less happy. 'It was almost like a proud announcement (by Facebook executives that they) have the capability to … tune emotions as if we had a volume control,' Lemov said, noting that the social network received a lot of backlash after its announcement. Spending time on social media can isolate people, and unlike with prisoners of war, it's ostensibly by choice. 'The more time is spent on social media, the less time is spent in social groups,' Lemov said, referring to clubs and bowling leagues that were more popular in the past. As a result, she said, people can miss out on developing social skills. Lemov said she thinks that spending more time on social media can explain why so many people are lonely. It's a Catch-22 situation: People who are lonely tend to use social networks more, according to a 2016 study. And the continued use of social media could make them lonelier. Being lonely is terrible for a person's mental health. One study conducted during Covid-19 lockdowns found loneliness was heavily associated with greater depression and thoughts of suicide. What to do about it: To combat what former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called an epidemic of loneliness, Lemov recommended challenging yourself to join groups that meet offline to socialize, whether it's a book club, a walking group, card game night, ultimate frisbee (or name your fun activity here). It doesn't even have to be that organized all the time. I like to remind my students that they can put their phones away and talk to the people next to them on the bus, at lunch and at social events. Then they'll have an opportunity to strike up conversations and sometimes true friendships. People who use social media more might also miss out on sleep — another thing that is essential to our mental health. Research has found that young people who use social media more tend to go to sleep later. Using smartphones in the middle of the night can also interfere with sleep. Not getting enough sleep is terrible for mental and physical health. Studies have found that sleep deprivation is associated with much higher anxiety and depression. What to do about it: Lemov recommended social media users work on what's called good sleep hygiene. I recommend my students leave phones outside their bedrooms when they go to bed for the night. Then it's easier to fight the temptation to stay up scrolling after bedtime or check the phone when waking up in the middle of the night, because the device isn't within arm's reach. Using social apps more can mean we spend less time socializing in real life and sleeping — both essential to our mental health. By making sure we realize how social media use affects us, spending time socializing offline and getting enough sleep, we can stay in control of our lives rather than letting social networks control us.
CNN
31-03-2025
- General
- CNN
How to prevent doomscrolling from controlling you
What do modern social media users have in common with American soldiers who decided not to return to the United States after being held as prisoners of war in North Korea? More than you might think, according to one professor. We're all potential victims of mind control, according to Rebecca Lemov, a historian of science at Harvard University and author of the new book 'The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion.' The American soldiers were brainwashed into not wanting to go home through tactics including isolation, the fraying of social bonds and sleep deprivation, Lemov said. And she argues that the same things happen to many users of social apps, and it's awful for their mental health. After decades of studying brainwashing in situations including POWs, cults and torture, she's concluded that 'this is something to which we're all susceptible, and that we consistently underestimate our malleability.' But while social networks may manipulate our emotions, we can take steps to protect ourselves by drawing on lessons from her research. Social media affects users differently, Lemov noted, comparing it to some people's experiences in cults. 'What's a cult for one person may not necessarily have the same effect on someone else,' she noted. When one person who is recruited decides to go all in, another 'may get certain things out of it, but not decide to give over their life savings or things like that.' She said social media is the same way. It affects different people differently, perhaps partly because of past experiences. That's why, when we consume content online, it's wise to pay attention to how we're feeling. 'Social media really puts you in your head a lot,' she said. 'It's almost as if you're an entity without a body.' What to do about it: Lemov pays attention to her own reactions by meditating every day, which gives her a way to tune in to sensations in her body and how they change. If a particular type of content leaves someone feeling anxious or upset, that's a helpful signal to consume less of it and even block those who create that kind of online work. It's not just how different kinds of social media influence our emotions. Lemov said social networks may actively manipulate us. In 2014, Facebook revealed it had conducted an experiment without users' knowledge showing it could influence their moods. The platform showed some users more positive content and others more negative content, then examined the emotions those users conveyed in their later posts. Those shown more positive posts seemed happier, and those who saw more negative posts seemed less happy. 'It was almost like a proud announcement (by Facebook executives that they) have the capability to … tune emotions as if we had a volume control,' Lemov said, noting that the social network received a lot of backlash after its announcement. Spending time on social media can isolate people, and unlike with prisoners of war, it's ostensibly by choice. 'The more time is spent on social media, the less time is spent in social groups,' Lemov said, referring to clubs and bowling leagues that were more popular in the past. As a result, she said, people can miss out on developing social skills. Lemov said she thinks that spending more time on social media can explain why so many people are lonely. It's a Catch-22 situation: People who are lonely tend to use social networks more, according to a 2016 study. And the continued use of social media could make them lonelier. Being lonely is terrible for a person's mental health. One study conducted during Covid-19 lockdowns found loneliness was heavily associated with greater depression and thoughts of suicide. What to do about it: To combat what former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called an epidemic of loneliness, Lemov recommended challenging yourself to join groups that meet offline to socialize, whether it's a book club, a walking group, card game night, ultimate frisbee (or name your fun activity here). It doesn't even have to be that organized all the time. I like to remind my students that they can put their phones away and talk to the people next to them on the bus, at lunch and at social events. Then they'll have an opportunity to strike up conversations and sometimes true friendships. People who use social media more might also miss out on sleep — another thing that is essential to our mental health. Research has found that young people who use social media more tend to go to sleep later. Using smartphones in the middle of the night can also interfere with sleep. Not getting enough sleep is terrible for mental and physical health. Studies have found that sleep deprivation is associated with much higher anxiety and depression. What to do about it: Lemov recommended social media users work on what's called good sleep hygiene. I recommend my students leave phones outside their bedrooms when they go to bed for the night. Then it's easier to fight the temptation to stay up scrolling after bedtime or check the phone when waking up in the middle of the night, because the device isn't within arm's reach. Using social apps more can mean we spend less time socializing in real life and sleeping — both essential to our mental health. By making sure we realize how social media use affects us, spending time socializing offline and getting enough sleep, we can stay in control of our lives rather than letting social networks control us.
