Perspective…
… refers to a particular attitude or way of viewing something.
It can also mean the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position relative to each other.
Trauma…
… is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.
It can refer to emotional shock following a stressful event or physical injury.
Trauma’s impact on our perspective makes us vulnerable to manipulation.
In the past decade, increased exposure to traumatic experiences has intensified this issue, causing many to develop a strong attachment to their trauma.
It’s crucial to address this through personal growth, open dialogue, and professional support to create a healthier, more resilient society.
Trauma & Propaganda
Propaganda frequently capitalizes on pre-existing trauma or insecurity, skillfully manipulating the fears, anxieties, and emotional vulnerabilities of individuals who have endured distressing experiences.
WAR TIME PROPAGANDA USE
For example, in wartime, propaganda can intensify fears of adversaries to garner public backing for military initiatives.
FEAR MONGERING CAMPAIGNS
Similarly, political campaigns may employ fear-driven messaging to influence voters by emphasizing possible threats to their safety and well-being.
COERSION — EXPLOITATION — COMPLIANCE
By invoking intense negative emotions, propaganda seeks to coerce individuals into compliance and allegiance, exploiting their emotional reactions to fulfill its objectives.
invoke deep rooted fears
This strategy proves effective as it resonates with deeply rooted fears and insecurities, rendering individuals more amenable to persuasion.
Propaganda can itself **cause** trauma
When propaganda is effective in spreading hatred, division, and misinformation on a wide scale, it can be psychologically traumatic for large groups of people.
Trauma can ALSO make people more susceptible to propaganda
Trauma has the potential to increase an individual’s vulnerability to propaganda.
TRAUMA + PROPAGANDA
Individuals who have gone through traumatic experiences frequently find themselves feeling more distrustful of others.
They also have a strong desire for straightforward explanations and narratives that can make sense of their experiences.
They often have an intensified need for security and a sense of belonging to a group, which is something that propaganda can readily
Propaganda takes advantage of these vulnerabilities for its own purposes and objectives.
Both propaganda + traumatic events
- short-circuit rational thinking
- appeal to emotions
- fan the flames of fear
- trigger “us vs. them” tribal mentalities
With enough repetition, propaganda can start to feel indistinguishable from reality.
WHEN WE become trauma-bonded
When a civilization persistently follows a rigid path, without self-reflection, it can inadvertently lay the groundwork for its own subjugation, eroding its own liberties.
It is like constructing a theater where the civilization unknowingly acts out its own enslavement.
Each short-sighted decision and action incrementally shapes a future where external forces exert control and suppress freedom.
This serves as a sobering reminder of how profound an impact our choices can have on the fate of societies.
How Can This Happen?
The trauma bonding of a nation to its government is a gradual process, built through a combination of fear, hopelessness, manipulation and habit.
contributing factors TO HOW A SOCIETY BECOMES TRAUMA BONDED:
OVERWHELMED BY CRISIS
Major crises that overwhelm citizens’ sense of security and control. These could be
- wars
- economic disasters
- natural catastrophes
- pandemics.
The larger the crisis, the greater people’s need for protection and reassurance from authority.
EXPLOITING FEARS
Governments that actively exploit citizens’ fears and insecurities through
- propaganda
- threat exaggeration
- misinformation,
governments condition people to see the state as the only source of security and order.
Citizens come to associate the government with survival.
The suppression of dissenting voices
As governments consolidate power in the wake of crises, they discourage opposition- making alternative perspectives seem non-existent, cementing the dominance of the official narrative. They accompany this through
- censorship
- surveillance
- imprisonment
- coercion.
Gradual erosion of freedoms
As citizens comply out of perceived necessity, governments expand their authority and weaken checks on their power.
Over time, these changes become normalized through repetition and habituation.
A diminishing of citizens’ sense of agency
Facing immense threats, people stop believing they can effect real political change.
They become passive subjects rather than active citizens.
This learned helplessness further traps them in the traumatic status quo.
We have been Placed Into Position
Every role we occupy seems to be carefully arranged, akin to performers in a grand theatrical production. Each individual has embraced their specific role, creating a harmonious ensemble that operates in perfect synchrony.
End Of America’s Great Experiement
The melancholy surrounding America’s decline is rooted in the recognition that the monumental experiment that has defined its principles and values is reaching a conclusion. This sadness emerges from the understanding that the American experiment, rich with aspirations and ideals, is moving into unfamiliar territory, evoking a complex mix of pride and trepidation.
Elite VS Citizens
This ongoing conflict can be seen as a significant struggle between the influential elite, who hold substantial power and resources, and the general public, who represent a much larger demographic.
At its core, this battle is fundamentally about control and influence within society. The elite are determined to preserve their privileged status and maintain their dominance, whereas the wider population is actively advocating for greater equality and justice.
This clash highlights the deep-seated tensions and disparities that exist between those at the top and those who seek to challenge the status quo in pursuit of a fairer and more equitable society.
Citizens Fighting With Opressors
This war encompasses physical clashes alongside ideological debates, as societal structures and hierarchies of power are fiercely contested.
The outcome of this war will determine the fate of the people and shape the future of society and the distribution of power.
