The Self

One reason is that conspiracy theories offer an intoxicating status inversion. By rejecting the “official knowledge” disseminated by society’s elites, the conspiracy theorist rejects their claim to intellectual superiority. It is the conspiracy theorist, not the elites, who knows things that others—the gullible sheeple—do not. Through their bravery... See more

We evaluate almost every action, habit, and preference not just by its immediate effects but by its reputational impact.

We are social creatures, and almost everything puzzling and paradoxical about our species is downstream of this fact.

There are several tricks for performing limbic bypass. (a) Give yourself a pause of five or six seconds before responding to an emotional trigger. This lets the instant adrenaline-fueled surge fade. (b) Ground your senses: take a sip of water, or feel your feet on the floor, or examine the wall's texture. (c) Name your emotion and analyze it: “I... See more