'The Ideological Brain' – Are Some People Hard-wired for Radicalisation?
Mar 19, 2025
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Dr. Leor Zmigrod, a political psychologist and neuroscientist, dives into the neurological factors behind dogmatic thinking in this engaging discussion. She explores why certain individuals are more prone to radicalization, examining how personality traits and social dynamics play a role. Zmigrod highlights the dangers of conspiracy theories and the influence of social media on ideological rigidity, especially among youth. Additionally, she emphasizes the need for cognitive flexibility as a crucial tool in combating radical beliefs and fostering open-mindedness.
Ideologically driven dogmatic thinking, characterized by rigid beliefs and hostile perceptions towards outsiders, can manifest across various life domains beyond politics.
Cognitive traits like rigidity and impulsivity significantly influence an individual's susceptibility to radicalization, especially in stressful environments that exacerbate these predispositions.
Social media platforms amplify risks of radicalization by perpetuating echo chambers, catering to cognitive biases, and fostering environments hostile to rational discourse.
Deep dives
Understanding Ideology
Ideology is defined as a fixed set of beliefs about how the world operates, which includes a rigid doctrine resistant to contrary evidence and a strong identity tied to those beliefs. This duality manifests in the way adherents not only cling to specific ideologies but also form hostile perceptions towards those outside their belief system. The concept highlights that ideological thinking is not restricted to political contexts; it can apply to religious beliefs and other areas of life where rigid adherence to a viewpoint can shape actions and relationships.
The Appeal of Ideologies
Ideologies provide comforting predictive frameworks for understanding the world, fulfilling the brain's need for coherence while fostering social connections among like-minded individuals. These frameworks often simplify complex realities, allowing people to make sense of uncertainties in ways that can be reassuring but also potentially dangerous. The seductive nature of ideologies can lead individuals to become dismissive of alternate perspectives, reinforcing their existing beliefs. This need for understanding coupled with a sense of community explains why people may gravitate towards conspiratorial thinking.
Psychological Roots of Radicalization
Certain cognitive traits, such as rigidity and impulsivity, play a significant role in an individual's susceptibility to ideological thinking and radicalization. Research shows that factors such as cognitive rigidity can predict extreme political views, including the readiness to endorse violence in support of these ideologies. Stressful environments can exacerbate these predispositions, pushing individuals toward more dogmatic beliefs. Understanding these psychological traits helps explain how ideology can manifest in diverse forms across different demographic groups, irrespective of intelligence or background.
The Role of Digital Media
The design of social media platforms amplifies the risk of radicalization by circulating content that caters to cognitive biases, particularly among individuals already vulnerable to ideological thinking. The algorithms prioritize emotionally charged and binary information, creating echo chambers that further entrench users' beliefs. This dynamic illustrates how the online environment can exacerbate cognitive rigidity and impulsivity, making rational discourse challenging. Consequently, social media becomes a fertile ground for the spread of extremist ideologies as it preys on individuals' psychological vulnerabilities.
Cultivating Cognitive Flexibility
To combat ideological rigidity, fostering cognitive flexibility is essential, encouraging individuals to entertain diverse perspectives and embrace uncertainty. Practicing open-mindedness and engaging in creative thinking can help individuals resist dogmatic views while enhancing their ability to adapt to changing circumstances. It’s crucial to re-evaluate habitual thought patterns that may limit adaptability and to encourage exploration beyond the familiar. By nurturing an environment that values flexible thinking and critical evaluation, societies can build resilience against the allure of extreme ideologies.
To coincide with the launch of her new book (The Ideological Brain - A Radical Science of Susceptible Minds) Rafael Behr talks to Dr Leor Zmigrod, a political psychologist and neuroscientist, about the ingredients of dogmatic thinking, why some of us are more prone than others, and how we can protect ourselves.
