Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation). Last week I shared an excerpt titled – ‘Happiness’ from an article titled ‘How to become Happier’ from the book ‘The Happiness Hypothesis’ by Jonathan Haidt. I highlighted some ideas from the book that can point in the direction on ‘How to become Happier’. Now, SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation) to the ones paying heed, this is where we try to draw your attention to things that matter and the importance of your attention, and that is because, ‘What we give our Attention to matters,’ as Our life’s experience would ultimately amount to whatever we had paid attention to.

Attention: is as fundamental as food; and we go blundering about, seeking ways to assuage the craving, instead of learning how to provide ourselves with what we need, sensibly and calmly. Once our attention is drawn to the mechanism of why and what we give attention to, it is as if a veil has been stripped off and we become freer in our action and choices. And that is our endavour.

This week I bring to your attention an excerpt titled – ‘Polarized Behaviour’ from an article titled ‘The Conditioning Machines in Our Back Pockets’ by John Zada.

Polarized Behaviour

In the last few years, I’ve noticed something odd: many people I know who’d never had much interest in politics have suddenly become quite deeply politicized around certain issues. People I previously knew to be either politically indifferent, more balanced in their views, or of mild temperament had quite suddenly become excessively emotional and obsessive mouthpieces on a single issue; or embroiled in the polarized “culture wars” that continue to pit left versus right.

Of course, an interest and participation in politics, even activism, is considered an accepted norm in our culture within nonviolent bounds. We all come with largely pre-determined biases that shape our worldviews. And there is no shortage of negative news for us to react to. It’s hard not to be affected by horrible events, no matter how far away they play out. All the more so if they involve us, or our communities, more directly.

But what has struck me about my newly politicized friends, acquaintances and family—beyond the rapidity of “conversion” to their newfound views—is that for all of their certainty and deepness of conviction and righteousness, they often had a very shallow knowledge of, or experience with, the things they propounded. Indeed, in many cases when pressed on the source of their understanding, they’d cite content seen on their social media feeds.

“The need to be one with a group, to have group approval and therefore social support, means that individuals will very often change these attitudes themselves, to fit with the norm, instead of having to be persuaded,” writes Denise Winn in her book, The Manipulated Mind.

No matter how much agency or knowledge we think we have, or how critical we deem our faculties, or how “media literate” and objective we take ourselves to be, we are all at risk of becoming more biased and blinkered than we think we are. Our natural learning and adaptive reflexes and instincts that helped us survive for aeons are simply too easily hacked.

Excerpt from ‘The Conditioning Machines in Our Back Pockets’ by John Zada.

I am sure that you will enjoy reading this article, to read it you can click on the following link:

The Conditioning Machines in Our Back Pockets

Enjoy reading it with your family, friends and near and dear one’s.

Namaste!