Instant Genius Why your brain might be wired for extremism
12 snips
Jul 13, 2025 
Leor Zmigrod, a political neuroscientist and author of 'The Ideological Brain', reveals the neurological and psychological roots of ideological extremism. She discusses how brain architecture influences vulnerability to radical ideas and the significance of cognitive flexibility. Delving into social media's role, Zmigrod explains how algorithms exacerbate polarization. The conversation emphasizes resilience and open-mindedness as key factors in resisting authoritarian ideologies and navigating today's complex political landscape.
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Brains and Extremism Link
- Our susceptibility to extremism is deeply rooted in the architecture of our minds, even at cellular and genetic levels.
- Cognitive traits influence political beliefs, but we have the agency to choose our ideological paths.
Ideology as Rigid Doctrine
- Ideological thinking embraces strict doctrines resistant to evidence and alternative explanations.
- Such rigidity can lead to hostility and violence towards those outside the ideology.
Brainwashing Misconception
- The idea of brainwashing wrongly implies mindlessness and loss of agency in radicalization.
- Instead, ideological extremism involves specific cognitive and emotional distortions in the brain.
