The Outrage Machine: Why Your Beliefs Might Not Be Your Own
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Outrage Machine: Why Your Beliefs Might Not Be Your Own
-
Narrated by:
-
By:
About this listen
Have you ever watched a friend or family member flip their opinion on a major issue, seemingly overnight? It’s not just hypocrisy; it’s a system at work.
This episode begins with a single kitchen-table argument and pulls back to reveal the hidden machinery that shapes what we believe. We uncover the neuroscience of "identity-protective cognition"—how your brain's deep-seated need for belonging can override facts. Then, we map the digital and political platforms that have learned to weaponize this instinct, creating a powerful feedback loop of moral outrage that leads to real-world consequences, from a deadlocked Congress to consumer boycotts.
But we don't stop at the problem. We also explore surprising and hopeful reforms—like Citizens' Assemblies and ranked-choice voting—designed to quiet the tribal noise and foster common ground. This is the story of how we can reclaim our thinking from the machine.