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New Discourses

Reactance

Aug 10, 2023
13:26

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Reactance is a psychological phenomenon that triggers strong reactions when freedoms are perceived to be at risk, and manipulators exploit this to polarize and activate people.
  • Manipulators effectively use reactance to mobilize support by exaggerating threats and framing them as attacks on fundamental rights, and countering this requires exposing the manipulation and offering alternative perspectives.

Deep dives

Understanding Reactants in Political Warfare

Reactants, a concept in political and psychological warfare, refers to the strong reaction people have when they perceive their freedom being restricted. Manipulators, including the Marxist left and reactionary right, employ reactants to induce people to take a side. They often frame issues such as trans rights, abortion, and education as fundamental rights under threat, even when they are not. The goal is to cause individuals to entrench themselves on either the left or the radical right. By understanding reactants and calling out the tactics, highlighting false choices, and offering alternative perspectives, we can counteract the manipulation and shrink the target population susceptible to reactants.

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