Psychological torture can be used to break someone's mind and implant a belief in the victim's mentality that will shape their behaviour permanently. Is something similar going on at a societal scale? Are we all susceptible to a slow and subtle mental manipulation through mainstream media and other influences? How can we become aware of such tricks?
Watch the Full Episode:
Listen to the Full Episode:
Notes:
1984 is a dystopian novel by George Orwell that is often cited in the context of social engineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
“Chain of Command” is the double episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation referenced in this discussion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_of_Command_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)
Other Episodes:
Ep. 47: The Good and Bad of Making Promises
Humans need each other, and so they need to depend on each other. When we make a promise or sign a contract we intensify an understanding that is usually mutually beneficial, but we also agree to retribution in the case of non-fulfillment. Is such a formal arrangement better than the...
Ep. 45: Our Insane Search for Security - with J. Krishnamurti
Feelings of anxiety often come when some security in our life diminishes. Because we believe that our existence depends on that safety net, we fear that its loss will cause our life to end. Jiddu Krishnamurti has helped many audiences realise the falsehood of such beliefs. In this interview he...
Ep. 44: Are you Living in your Head?
Everyone overthinks, not only people diagnosed with OCD. We spend the majority of every day ruminating over the same old thoughts: worries about how we are viewed, about our possessions, and about any other thing or idea that makes up our artificial identity. Living in the past is another example...
Ep. 43: Do You Believe in Extra-Terrestrial Life?
Neither William nor Steven have had first-hand experiences with alien life or technology. But it can be fun to speculate: What would it mean for humanity if an advanced race from a distant galaxy visited our planet? What technologies and spiritual insights would we be able to learn about from...