Psychologist debunks 8 myths of mass scale | Todd Rose

Psychologist Todd Rose debunks 8 myths so mainstream we all believe them.
Subscribe to Big Think on KZbin ► / @bigthink
Up next, Why Americans don’t trust each other ► • Why Americans don’t tr...
Collective illusions - false assumptions about society that many people share - have existed for thousands of years in many different ways. Today, because of social media and modern technology, they have become even more common.
One example of a collective illusion is the commonly held belief that everyone wants fame, wealth, and power. That’s not true. Most of us want lives of purpose and meaning. But because of false assumptions, many of us spend our lives chasing things that won’t fulfill us.
Another example of a collective illusion is the pervasive idea that the U.S. is an irredeemably divided nation. Sure, Americans have plenty of disagreements. But fundamentally, they have more in common than they might think.
As former Harvard professor and bestselling author Todd Rose explains, the antidote to collective illusions is becoming a more authentic individual, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of how our innate drive to conform to social norms often works against that.
0:00 What is a “collective illusion”?
2:43 How myths invade private opinion
4:54 Myth: Other people can’t be trusted
8:32 Myth: Success is wealth, status, and power
11:12 Myth: Social media reveals what society thinks
13:56: Myth: Group consensus is vetted and factual
17:53: Myth: Elite jobs matter to us
21:11 Myth: America is on the verge of civil war
24:18 Myth: People want university degrees
26:57 Myth: Cultural norms exist to protect you
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collective Illusions is a 9-part series brought to you by Stand Together: a community of changemakers tackling our biggest challenges
For more stories, ideas, and advice from changemakers, subscribe to Stand Together ► / standtogethercc
And visit Stand Together’s website to learn more ► standtogether.org/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Todd Rose:
Todd Rose is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best selling author of Collective Illusions, Dark Horse, and The End of Average. He lives in Burlington, Massachusetts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more of our stories on society’s collective illusions:
Is free will an illusion?
► bigthink.com/neuropsych/free-...
Are you superior to others? Or is it an illusion?
► bigthink.com/neuropsych/illus...
Penn Jillette: The year that shattered America’s illusions
► bigthink.com/the-present/penn...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Big Think | Smarter Faster™
► Big Think
The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century.
► Big Think+
Make your business smarter, faster: bigthink.com/plus/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want more Big Think?
► Daily editorial features: bigthink.com/popular/
► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: bigthink.com/st/newsletter
► Facebook: bigth.ink/facebook
► Instagram: bigth.ink/Instagram
► Twitter: bigth.ink/twitter

[@phoenixpinkmyn5535]

I'd never heard the phrase "positive deviant". It perfectly captures my model for social change. When I worked with community groups, and activists, it seemed like just going out and telling people to change hardly made any difference at all. And, instead, just being that change, and being that model for people around you, that made a much stronger impact. I still believe that.

[@carriebell3566]

I have seen this in action a lot of times.

[@publicdomain1103]

talk the talk, walk the walk.

[@preciousone9377]

That is my mantra…Be the change you want to see in the world.

[@kimsherlock8969]

Hmmmm Change does continue always changing life. There was an ingenious side . To be independent. Experimenting ideologically with survival Living closer with nature. This was a revolution of thinking The Idealic happiness in escaping . Unfortunately Fashions copying the style mass produced Every second person could appear Hip Not on the inside outside display of dressing didnt show ones Political ideals . The fashion became boring so changed into inner city Disco. The best parts of the intellectual challenge to comformity Were put into bags for the charity Shop To many it was just a fashion show.

[@The_Opinion_of_Matt]

From what I have heard about the Peace Corps they worked as "positive deviants". Don't take my word for though. As they say, do the research.

[@awake8806]

“Don’t carry that distortion over into the way you treat people in real life” - clearly demonstrated in a huge way during the last couple years. This is excellent!

[@AgendaInMind]

People don’t get sick from magical flying Boogey germs. They DEVELOP the “illness” following the resolution of the upsetting event that caused it. Just like they DEVELOP cancer. If you can’t “catch” cancer, you can’t “catch” anything else. The Germ Theory has been fraud for 110 years. Repeating it over and over does not make it true.

[@TraversyMedia]

Amazing video. It’s very refreshing and made me feel less crazy because lately I feel like the world I am living in is some twisted dimension and not the one that I grew up in.

[@anamelikeothers]

Same with me.

[@chasedgerm2023]

I totally agree things have changed so fast and nobody is noticing

[@markhaus]

Very well said I feel the same way. Also love your channel, it’s helped me a lot over the years

[@chironOwlglass]

The world you _think_ you grew up in never existed. You were oblivious to reality as a child, as we all were. Read some Lacan. The Real is utterly unknowable. No one inhabits "reality" as any act of perception is unavoidably an act of interpretation and translation

[@touristtea6076]

Always enjoy BT episodes but I see some gaps in this one and have questions. Not sure it’s so revolutionary. Wish they listed what the higher ones are. Because my guess is people listed free time, more pleasure and trips, less work, big houses and stuff to fill it result from being rich, famous and having a career others want. So called low priority🤷🏽‍♀️.

[@nobody6398]

This is food for thought for everyone regardless of their current beliefs and opinions. I especially like that it doesn’t seek to divide but bring people together - very refreshing.

[@listo695]

Its more than food for thought. It is a warning, and besides the harmful planetary circumstances we put ourselves in, this is up there with the what the real problem is. Not only there is a collective illusion but it is also used against us by those who set the laws. We are way past wars, history repeats itself but it has to be slightly different. Folks, it is a psychological warfare. It is a psychological control. A scary one for the fate of humanities and individual progression as well as spiritual.

[@WithScienceAsMySheperd]

we are the same : @22:40 = humans are 99.999999999% alike in their dna we are what? 98% alike chimps? We share 27-30% of our DNA with yeast!!! -source : CARL SAGAN ("Shadows of forgotten ancestors")

[@cranberrycanvas]

It’s funny that the left has moved the goal posts so far that it’s starting to sound like the right is criticizing itself when it’s forced to formulate arguments against their rhetorical zealotry. It’s kind of making me realize why the left is doing what it’s doing but I don’t see the end game. It seems like both sides are working together to make the people to pick between authoritarianism or the chaos the government is going to create on its way out

[@Firesprink72]

It's the story of the Emperor's New Clothes. Everybody agreed on how great the clothes were, even though they all privately knew it was nonsense. They just didn't want to be the only one to speak out about it. I see a million examples of similar situations in today's news and social media. It's not really that we don't know enough, it's more a problem that so much of what we DO know is wrong.

[@sonkeschmidt2027]

We learned that we can make up things in our mind that look and sound prettier than what we actually percieve. Now that we have build this huge fantasy people don't like to be reminded that it's nothing but air because then they have to face the reality they tried to think themselves away from.

[@d.virgallito3490]

You just described trumpsters!

[@Firesprink72]

@@d.virgallito3490 Your analogy doesn't work. The mainstream media, cable news, academia, woke corporations, and pop culture all turned against Trump as soon as he put an "R" after his name. You can't seriously use an "Emporer's New Clothes" analogy.

[@JoanneGuelke]

@@Firesprink72 I think the media is capable of creating a collective illusion over night. They can make a person a hero to a villain to a hero to a villain. Plus school preps people to conform or risk ridicule and being outcast.

[@bbeaup]

@@d.virgallito3490 nah it's more like calling chicks with dicks female. or the body positivity movement when certain people are in danger of their health.

[@kattinadahmen6155]

Everybody NEEDS to watch this video, cause I feel there´s so much insecurity and lack of meaning on my friends' lifes, sometimes mine, in order to please the expectation of others, but they don't care, or definitely shouldn't. So this really is an incentive to keep validating feelings and authentic opinions, and to fight for a less harsh world.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Reflection is truly key. Humanity should dare to look deep within, but it should also accept that more than mere physical Reflection is required for true, celestial enlightenment. "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In Time, all points converge; hope's strength resteeled. But to earn final peace at the Universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@SpydrXIII]

the social media generation is fame crazy. and they don't even want to be apparently. this is some deep, life changing stuff. this could help a lot of mental struggles.

[@zanemeek9042]

@@SpydrXIII Imagine wanting to be famous only because you *think* others want to be famous so you should also want it but hardly anybody really wants it. But then the idea that everyone wants to be famous *even when they don't really want to be famous* becomes so socially ingrained that it seems like the only worthwhile goal except you don't really want it. Talk about psychological and emotional torture; it's like a high school popularity contest on the largest dose of steroids imaginable. And it's all thanks, in large part, to social media.

[@TheHorseshoePartyUK]

Sophistry -> Bandwagon Fallacy -> Groupthink -> CULT every which way in western politics whilst they all insist they're totally opposite to each other, as full of Group Attribution Error as each other. Ignorance of Cognitive Biases and Logical Fallacies is used by shady operators be it individual controlling narcissists in an intimate relationship, domestic political extremism all the way to international politics. I have a Critical Thinking playlist with content from various great channels if that interests anyone

[@puncherry]

so many got lost during pandemic when social media was their only reality

[@wedgewizard5429]

This video is like a breath of fresh air. For some time I have believed that there is vocal minority that lies to the majority and it silences most people because they think everyone else thinks something different. Not often do I hear that belief echoed or supported. The idea that others are out there thinking this way makes me feel a lot better. I hope these ideas spread. Great job! :D

[@electrictroy2010]

VIVI the black mage. (from Final Fantasy 9) .

[@esmevancampen6102]

this is so huge!! i convinced myself at 18 to go into a high paying stable job bc i was convinced that would make me the best version of myself rather than being an artist. i was so convinced i was right i would argue my way around everything and now i have a degree that does nothing for me. i have these conversations all the time with my 13 y/o brother about what he thinks he should want v what he actually wants and what he actually enjoys doing v what he thinks he should do

[@listo695]

Yea but it is different nowadays. The reason why is different is because now every kid wants to be an “artist” (which might be the same amount as before) but since education has not progress in par with technology then we leave the decision of what we want to do in the hands of programs that can easily manipulate our brains due to studied researches. Hence, if we do not equally present the options of what fun can be for different personalities then we are clearly directing the people to a precise direction. So although it is true, we must teach the young minds to be aware of this because otherwise we will collapse. Currently the market( specifically US economy)is highly concentrated based on entertainment. Which will leave the fate of the economy in the hands on private organizations that control these applications software like tiktok as the best example.

[@hexkaze5849]

Eh be careful what you wish for sometimes, grass isn't always greener especially when talking about the life of a professional artist, very competitive and hard to succeed. It's very plausible that working an unrelated job and doing art on the side might be a better choice, plenty of artists choose that route too. All depends on the individual though.

[@nonyabizness.original]

@@listo695 you start off with "yes but it is different nowadays" without noticing that the op is speaking in present tense.

[@salmon9950]

I find myself in a very similar situation now. It’s not that it’s not important to think about practical matters when deciding which career path to pursue as you’re entering the adult world, but many kids think that what their parents tell them about the adult work is undisputed, universal fact, and not the products of people who are fallible like any other. As a result of my career choices as a teenager, I now have a job that I dislike in an industry I dislike, and I am in the process of figuring out how to get out. But it’s more difficult now because I have to keep a roof over my head and pay back my student loans. I don’t know that if I’d pursued art like I briefly thought about in high school would’ve resulted in me being more satisfied now, but I do wish that I’d been more open minded as a teen. My little sister is now heading off to college, and hearing her talk about why she’s chosen her major and classes gives me intense deja vu. Everything chosen because it’s the “right” thing to do to ensure a happy, stable life. At least according to our parents’ definition. But I worry she doesn’t even realize she’s on autopilot, like I didn’t. I don’t think she’s considered whether or not she even wants to have the exact same life that my parents have, never mind whether or not the things they and the school recommend is the way to get there.

[@rohanking12able]

Ok but you take your experience and assume you were right about yourself

[@dom5975]

This video practically described my personal journey in life while being unaware I was autistic, to figuring it out, and having an overwhelming liberating experience. It makes me wonder just how many others are trapped unaware and how much it would help humanity to raise awareness regarding this.

[@megurubeta]

Actually, it's not necessarily a liberating experience. It depends on one's own values. Being autistic can be enabling behaviours (that I argue,aren't necessarily good, but you finally have the perfect excuse to do it and maybe you just needed that enabler) Imagine someone not knowing that they are on the spectrum and nor does anyone in their lives or if they have a hunch, they decide not to mention it, if everyone else is treating the person as normal. No special treatment, no overdone adjustments, everything is handled from a point of view, that you're supposed to be normal, average. Pressure at first? Probably. But it inclines you to better yourself, since the logic is, it was your choice/ignorance in the first place if you were acting different from the normie that you essentially are. Think abt it, that person will be inclined to take responsibility. Their understanding will be well ppl are somewhat different, everyone has quirks to work on, or be eventually an adult abt it. Now compare the two mindsets. One has potential enabling obnoxious behaviours, that you call as liberating(free to do wtf things as finally have the "ticket" for it). The other makes you try harder to better yourself. If I were a parent, and could get away with it (not so strong on the spectrum etc) i'd rather raise my kid finding a narrative that doesn't label them and give them a mindset that they are different and can't be normal. Being normal becomes their choice. I think that's more empowering. You can still help the things their struggle with, as a good parent, and find hacks for their quirks and be a team abt it.

[@megurubeta]

On a similar tangent, many dementia sufferers decline faster after they are told abt their condition. Power of having a label. It's Not necessarily good.

[@dom5975]

Yes, as I mentioned in the first sentence, my personal journey, I’d got to my early 30’s without realising I was autistic and looking back on the grand scheme of things had only a few bumps and scrapes in life due to it. But after the realisation, it put my mind and the entire world into perspective. The exact perspective this video is trying to achieve. I fully understand it is a spectrum, and many people on it will find difficulties in life due to it. Regardless, the stigmas and lack of education around it are something I will dedicate the rest of my life to, willingly(psychology just so happens to be one of my “autistic interests”) and before anyone says it, yes autism is a neurodivergence and there are far more illnesses in psychology. But they all carry horrifying stigmas in many parts of the world, out of sheer ignorance. To my neurodivergent friends, I get you, you are not alone, and we will turn this tide together.

[@elvisofdallas]

Dom - my amazing wife sometimes thinks she’s autistic and is greatly afraid she is. I explain that the quirky behavior isn’t unusual - everyone has quirks, but I think she wants to do the battery of tests to see what a psychiatrist thinks. What were your symptoms and are there any concerns that “knowing” either way could be negative? Thanks for reading - would love your feedback

[@darkcreatureinadarkroom1617]

@@elvisofdallas please don't do that to your wife. As a fellow Neurodivergent person (not ASD but ADHD), I can relate a bit to what she feels. There's a reason why she suspects she is on the spectrum, and telling her "everybody is a bit like that" doesn't do anything for her except invalidate her. If she has read some literature about the topic and feels like it fits her, don't try to stop her from exploring it further, stand by her. I don't know of anyone who has regretted getting a diagnosis.

[@hungrymusicwolf]

I was skeptical going into this video because I thought this was going to be another "the other side is delusional and now I can show my scientific TM* study to prove it.", but this was an honest to goodness sincere look at our society. Todd, it takes courage to speak up and call out the emperors clothes, and I applaud you for it. Especially the part about dismantling the top down approach of distrusting people and controlling their choices, and demanded that our institutions treat us with trust.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Reflection is truly key. Humanity should dare to look deep within, but it should also accept that more than mere physical Reflection is required for true, celestial enlightenment. "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In Time, all points converge; hope's strength resteeled. But to earn final peace at the Universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@dannestrom]

But sometimes people are "collectively delusional". Just look at Russia. Just joking. I think that counts as collective illusion as well. Putin and Kremlin forces their propaganda on the people. Some really believe that propaganda. However many Russians probably don't, so privately they are opposed to Putin, but in public they support the "Special military operation" because they think everyone else is supporting it. No one dares to speak up. There are probably millions of Russians that are afraid to speak up. Not just because they are afraid of being put in jail for speaking the truth, but because they believe that even their closest friends and family members would disagree with them. Therefore it's easier to go with the crowd and support the SMO in public.

[@WellBehavedForeigner]

Are you kidding me? That's not the problem with "science" anyway. are you really addicted to Trying To Become Unforgettable To Me? Hi everybody, today I saw news of someone in America shooting a power plant with a gun and cutting the power (probably in order to be able to do some other crimes, robberies, you know the deal). I was like, "How can someone who's not a fan of American authorities expect to be able to make proper judgements before living 20 years of a non-American life (At LEAST 20 YEARS, PREFERABLY 60) with all the memories and friends and classrooms, etc. What the fuck are they thinking? That's why I'll never understand America. They have a delusion of grandeur where they think all reality (including themselves, and irritatingly, even me) is "more grand" than it really is. It's the most irritating thing I can imagine. It's paranoia. It's a mental illness. Just don't get my attention ever again. I really dislike you. Please. I really don't have the tolerance for any of this." thanks for talking about this. Can you elaborate more on what you think is going on, so that I can tell you whether it's possible for it to really be true? I also don't like science, and believe it should be something which is meant to end, even though I'm kind of a scientist. It seems like the biggest flaw of western culture is that it considers what it calls "science" to be part of its heritage (that science will outlive them/me). They have declared war on my sanity by doing so. I would like to finish it. It can finish itself. I hate them, because they have sided with only terrible thing in the universe, from the perspective of mankind. and also, informing me of anything which incriminates anybody constitutes Bringing Unwelcome Drama Into My Life and Contaminating My Life With Your Entire Wilderness' Failure No wonder Americans have or have had a theory that the n word should exist, but everyone else was carrying on with their "nwordless" lives. What filth How is America such a monkey country that they think being patriotic means forgiving/releasing the prisoners instead of killing them? Who told them to be like this? If it's really such a monkey country, then why bother with Having A Language? The problem with the promise of getting revenge in the future or even of being a more formidable opponent in the future is that in order to make such a promise, one will lose the ability to know when one will cross the line by hypnotizing others too much. That's why I'm not such a big fan of Japan. It's tacky, now that they've already taught it to Europe. trigger warning I'm not Shinzo Abe's dad

[@hungrymusicwolf]

​@@WellBehavedForeigner I was beginning to make a real response to your comment, then I read the rest of it and realized your either a crazy person or a troll. have a nice day.

[@WellBehavedForeigner]

@@hungrymusicwolf Is there any doubt that you ought to tell yourself that Man doesn't have an unlimited attention span for you, but that this is merely because Being On Good Or Bad Terms With Others Is A Thing and that all other Things are influenced by the "gravitational pull" of that FIRST Thing?

[@danlightened]

A much needed video for social awareness. I'm a sceptic and I question everything. I find it really weird how easily people jump on a bandwagon.

[@nathananderson8720]

This is one of the channels that gave me the courage to start my KZbin channel 2 months ago about self development and now have 76 subs and almost 55 hour watch time. I know it’s not comparable with others but I’m still proud I started because I’ve been learning so much lessons that I couldn’t have learned without getting started in the 1st place

[@doricetimko5403]

What’s your channel name? I’d like to check it out.✌🏼

[@luisrobles5906]

Every social media platform and tv and radio should interrupt programming and play this.

[@sobercow2819]

This is quite literally the most underrated comment ive ever read... Dare i say the most underrated comment on the internet

[@epicenterbasshd9636]

@TallDryGlass I don’t tho, but i used to tho :/

[@lolawants2008]

They purposefully create collective illusion as their profit model & only have incentive to hide this knowledge.

[@brucefulcher2191]

Download it and share it everywhere We have the responsibility to spread this now that we have seen it we all need to understand that we have been covertly unified all along ❤

[@karld884]

Please add the documentary "The Social Dilemma" to the playlist.

[@gilejoksimovic3168]

“There is no God, but don’t tell that to my servant, lest he murder me at night.” ― Voltaire on Collective illusions

[@ItsAMissTree]

Oh Voltaire, how sharp your words snap

[@megurubeta]

Yeah i had same feel the video is tapping into an old problem with fancy new words... As Voltaire points it out, lies can be so damn useful. Use it wisely, you'll survive. If you survive, you can pass it on. Lies didn't get selected out and disappear from the human condition, because of this. But we can be wiser about what we choose to lie for and how often, and the video i think is a reminder to choose your lies carefully and think of long term, large scale effects too, not just the immediate outcome.

[@mattball420]

This. This is why religion started.

[@ItsAMissTree]

@@mattball420 lol, no, wrong

[@mattball420]

@@ItsAMissTree oh it definately is, and each one is contructed based on the hierarchy of their respective culture (hence why the christian god has a kingdom). A king is only a man, people will only fear him so much, but a god? How can you escape that? There is no way, you're stuck obeying out of fear. The perfect tool for controlling your subjects and justifying wars.

[@martincattell6820]

The Vietnam malnutrition example was very interesting to me. I wonder how many people do or avoid doing seemingly inconsequential things which diminish their quality of life. Honest self-reflection and honest conversation needs to happen however uncomfortable it may be. I feel terrible for people today and throughout history who have faced torture and death for trying to challenge social illusions. I am grateful that I am not afraid of such consequences because they are unlikely to happen.

[@willieinthewild3336]

I just discovered your channel. Was blown away by this video. Easy to understand entertaining. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to exploring more of your channel.

[@ilovehistoryn.a.h9446]

In my family, we've started questioning everything and supporting each other in our questioning: norms, ways of being, standards, social roles, expectations - that we put on ourselves and others -, bell curves, opinions, etc. It has been such a journey for us to unpack things and discover our authenticity at the core. Our relationship flourished in so many different ways. The constant challenge to old paradigms is the root of transformation. Society is made by individuals, and the key to change society is at the hands of each one of us, individually. Let's change society by changing ourselves first. 🌏🌍🙏

[@tinfoilhatter]

what are your three favorite 'paradigms' , for instance, then, if you don't mind-my-askin'?

[@MidaKasalis]

I agree so much! That’s what my family is doing as well and it’s a blessing and an unbelievable feeling to be able to live your love however you want to.

[@immkk1125]

you are creating a contradiction, possibly a paradox and giving people unnecessary existential crises. or not it all depends on who is reading these comments

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@immkk1125 nobody's readin' these, man: or if they do, they haven't-a-clue, mostly, anyway... anybody usin' the word 'paradigms', better have at least three examples of those, haha

[@ilovehistoryn.a.h9446]

@@tinfoilhatter: My favorite paradigms, ways of being, thinking and acting, would be those that allow for my inherent authenticity to be expressed. To be human in all my depth, without being trapped by roles: husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father, worker, etc. Who do I really want to be aside from these roles? I really don't want to be defined or attached to any of these roles. And without definition is how I want to engage with the world. No masks.🌍

[@bahibrahim101]

A call for unity will fall on deaf ears. a call to treat one another with dignity, that every human being deserves, will actually puncture the illusion of division and allow us to accomplish more together as a people than we could possibly imagine - Todd Rose

[@3nertia]

Which is why capitalism would never allow it >_>

[@annnee6818]

@@3nertia We're doing it to ourselves y'all

[@BethBarany]

Loved this quote!

[@BethBarany]

@@3nertia Of course not. Yet we can "vote" with our pocketbooks. So there's that.

[@3nertia]

@@BethBarany That's why those at the top hoard their wealth - makes it difficult to be heard amongst the record profits ...

[@sarah-jessicabergeron8649]

I loved the message the video brings in saying that we need to leave room for differences in our conversations. "Agree to disagree". Sharing our views of the world should be about more than just reaching consensus, convincing others of our righteousness, or getting approval of our values. Sometimes, a conversation should be that: a place where ideas can be bounced off of one another, with the simple objective of seeking some common ground and creating innovative avenues starting off with our disagreements. Revealing who we are, our vision of life, and what we want begins with authenticity and ends with open-mindedness.

[@dcivicik]

The information and advices in this video are nothing short of a revolution in humanity's psyche and the entire direction of our species but delivered in such a casual and non-intimidating way that it is awe inspiring. Our societal problems are never as deep as we are made to believe they are and the vast majority are good people in pursuit of a fulfilling life with their loved ones. This is pretty much the same everywhere in the world. The biggest illusion in the world is the illusion of division which is intentionally fueled to divide and rule.

[@josephbelisle5792]

So true. Systems of control.

[@Mr.Nichan]

One realization I've recently had about trustworthiness is that it probably depends a lot on the pressures involved. E.g., when one answer results in you losing your job and the other doesn't, I'd bet most people are a lot less likely to be honest than in a situation where there's no fear involved, like when you just have a chance to get a gift you weren't expecting anyway. I noticed this sort of effect in my own thinking and behavior, at least to some extent.

[@michaelangelogonzalez8874]

I see your point, but when sticking to this very point you realize what this video is telling us. That at our CORE we rather be honest. Take the pressures of the world away and we don't even have a reason to lie

[@Mr.Nichan]

@@michaelangelogonzalez8874 Yes, and secondly it's supposed to be telling us that most people don't already know or believe this, though I didn't see anything in the video itself saying this point has been demonstrated for this particular definition of honesty.

[@veritas2222]

Same here. It led me to the realization that honesty is a privilege. Think about it.

[@baldurblondal5756]

​@@veritas2222 You mean to say that the more privileged a person is, the more honest they are? I would like to know which privilege in particular makes you a more honest person. (a person's honest disposition may very well to be dishonest, in which case technically correct, as I assume there is no shortage of shadiness with the richest people in the world)

[@Mr.Nichan]

@@baldurblondal5756 She's saying that it's a privilege to be able to get away with being honest. This isn't necessarily a continuous monotonic process where "more privileged" means "more honest", though. In fact, the whole idea of "more privileged" is dubious, because there are many different kinds of privileges that can't be mathematically compared or added together. I think her point is a bit reductive, but it also sounds like you either just don't get it or are trying to make it sound wrong to critique it in a way that backfires by making it look like you just didn't think about it enough to actually address the point being made.

[@jledgerton]

I wish I could give each section of the video it's own thumbs up. The explanatory power of the truth on offer here is fairly astonishing. Do the public a service. Watch it and forward it.

[@loricrawford1952]

I did and I have! I find it profound and enlightening! So much quotable material :-)

[@hondrta]

Already did!

[@tafadzwadete4791]

i know riight

[@bornmad_diemad]

I'm autistic so society and culture have always been confusing and frustrating for me. I've traveled a lot and seeing other people and other cultures did a lot to inform my perspective. He's right when he says that everyone is equally good and bad. There really aren't some people some where who are better than everyone else. The real differences come from the laws and practices that a society relies on. I'm honestly not strong enough to face the problems going on in the usa. This place doesn't even feel like my home anymore. I think he brings up a lot of things that would definitely help our society, but this country just isn't safe for someone like me and I don't have the support systems that I would need to be able to do have a good life here.

[@breathinggreen2790]

Australia is a lovely spot for finding space. Cape Jervis .🎉

[@anerexicpig720]

This man, in the first 45 seconds, describes the complete clown world we are currently living in

[@-handala-]

You, in one comment, described our world perfectly. Going with Clown World.

[@rohanking12able]

As opposed to what?

[@ChillsUnearthed]

​@rohanking12able as opposed as to seeing that the clown world is an illusion. Based on a very vocal minority. That most of us want the same things, and think that others don't. That we think we are divided when we are not.

[@rohanking12able]

@@ChillsUnearthed what unites us?

[@meepmeep3874]

​@@rohanking12ableit's in their comment. They said we want the same things.

[@azmeecruz1080]

I’ve definitely fallen under this conformist mindset in my previous teenage years. I’m glad to learn another facet of truth as I enter my young adult years.

[@hungrymusicwolf]

This was a video that desperately needed to be made, and I thank you guys for doing it.

[@WellBehavedForeigner]

Don't say those exact words, you jinx! what the hell

[@jivekiwi]

I just feel a little more happier knowing that people are watching videos like this, with a positive message.. Simple and true.

[@lindsayc1141]

Todd hit it out of the park. Well-researched and well-defended.

[@TheRealJackMahoffer]

Kind of off topic but the editing and production quality of this video is fantastic. Kudos to the entire production team.

[@Sinehmatic]

It's really not, and very cheesy

[@a.wenger3964]

Just a bunch of stock videos with the ocasional mirror effect. Not very impressive nor particularly effective at illustrating a point.

[@chetsenior7253]

The medium is the message

[@DLabri3]

thats on topic ☝🏿

[@grady_young]

While this seems a bit sad at first, this makes me extraordinarily optimistic because a collective illusion must be easier to change than a personal illusion. We can make this country and world better!

[@binc8445]

And this in itself is an illusion.

[@grady_young]

@@binc8445 ahh yes, I’ve fallen into Maya once again, thank you for Satori!

[@michaelhughes6841]

Yeah you might change a few ppl mind about there personal opinion about their idea of the popular opinion but that still doesn't change the popular opinion... 🤔

[@grady_young]

@@michaelhughes6841 well according to the video, the personal opinion, in many cases, is much more positive than the popular illusion. So if you dispel the popular illusion, I think you get a much more positive society.

[@mtn1793]

@@binc8445 Just as your contrary opinion is an illusion

[@StatementPlus]

This has got to be one of the best videos I've seen in a long long time. So well explained how human's naturally work on a social and private level, and that dichotomy between outward and inward belief can be so great. Yet, simultaneously, humans aeasily become under delusion by peer pressure, social construct, and institutional propaganda.

[@jasonhertzberg4818]

Reminds me a bit of “The Emperor has no clothes”

[@Zanaze_banane]

Have always been an independent thinker; I'm autistic so miss a lot of social cues that most people see, but I see the dramatic ways people change when they're on their own versus in a group. It used to cause me huge amounts of stress. This video strikes perfectly in the middle ground between what people feel and what they say. Everyone in the first world should watch this video.

[@irina5599]

One of the strengths of autistics is their innate ability to think creatively and independently, despite what the collective group may think. Unfortunately this causes them to often be bullied and made fun of for thinking and being so different. They are less readily "agreeable", and people can sense there is just something "off"... Regardless, please stay strong, for you are one of humanity's greatest gifts.

[@MannyGrey]

This video was directed by Doctor Strange. The way he broke down the collective illusion was really interesting and pretty true. I traveled the east coast in 2020 as the pandemic was beginning to wind down and had a similar experience despite the absolute vitriol, hate, and toxicity that pervaded social media and the news. Most people just wanted themselves and their family to be ok. Everyone I talked to just wanted to be grateful for something and ok. So many people in the south offered to help me in some way. Everyone had their political opinions and always seem to be worried about steering the conversation that way, but once i made them feel comfortable, these truths usually came out. I'd say out of the dozens of people I spoke to, only one had openly vile views, but he was so obviously lonely, as well as mentally ill. The danger is not as large in the U.S. Just be openly and bravely good and you will help many people to do the same.

[@ryanpmcguire]

What was his vile view?

[@russiankid112233]

wait, covid was winding down in 2020?

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

But thats the thing about the south. Everyone here is real nice and polite people, very welcoming and all. But they believe some wack ass things about how the country should be run. Single issue voting is quite prevalent as well as being heavily influenced politically by your church’s priest’s opinions.

[@jackburkhardt7]

@@ryanpmcguire probably that “The Office” isn’t funny

[@hookooekoo2]

It's almost like the powers that be are trying (via social / mainstream media) to set us against each other.

[@anthonymoloney3671]

I think the most important take away is to take a step back and question/challenge some of the things you as an individual and we as a society believe. Ask yourself why? You may not find the answer at first, but keep asking. Please don't just take what Todd has presented as fact. (Respectfully) it's his own opinion and interpretation of his organizations statistics, which may or may not be valid. Challenge the information presented in the video, and indeed challenge this very comment. Ask questions and be true to yourself.

[@thederpydude2088]

Right, I think I still have to review these ideas to some degree so I can find out more about how it applies to my life and experiences. Also, for things presented as fact, it can just be a bit of fun to play the devil's advocate and find contradictions along with connections.

[@zOOmzity]

Professor David Bohm, theorectical physicist, had this all nailed down in the early '90s. "Thought as a System"; the seminars, the book, the exploration. Dr Bohm's proposals, are simply brilliant. Dialogue is a very important key to solving all social dilemmas.

[@Lucia_DuVide]

I think the best part about this entire video is that it's it's a 30 minute long video with scientific citations and surveys and studies and all of it is to say "Go touch some grass"

[@rachmodels5038]

The social media section was the most interesting to me. Some in my extended circle of friends are influencers and I’ve always wondered why they go to so much trouble to keep up appearances. As soon as the cameras are off, many of them behave and maybe think differently to what they promote online. I’ve always wondered if their personal values align to what they’re actually posting on their socials. Food for thought!

[@sonkeschmidt2027]

And it's all rooted in fear. In the public eye they become afraid of misbehaving and rejection as punishment. For most of our evolution rejection by the group meant serious risk of death. So they reduce themselves to a culturally accepted puppet to belong and not die. It's an ancient biological program and takes a lot of time to rewire and update to our current reality, that this isn't necessary anymore as we have become much less dependent on others opinions.

[@gamefreak0413]

I would look into why they feel the need to project a false reality of themselves to their followers.

[@garrymcfadden4105]

@@gamefreak0413money

[@garrymcfadden4105]

@@gamefreak0413money

[@BrownestKoala]

Employers are almost never interested in trusting. Despite being a loyal and reliable employee for 22 years, after providing this type of suggestion to the organisation in my presentation to senior management, allowing employees to be trusted for their role and to listen to honest and targetted feedback as part of their development and the potential to the company, my promotion became a nightmare. I wasn't management material by my own admission I soon realised, but tried my best and didn't want to give up. Instead of being honest with me and offering me a way to withdraw from the role, I was subjected to bullying, harassment, ridicule and deceit which resulted in a manufactured reason to sack me. It included HR management. This video no doubt has brilliant solutions to so many issues, but you need honest people in positions of authority to implement them. Good luck. It's all about greed these days. Honesty is a bar too high for the majority of senior executives. Glad I retired and live a very good life.

[@vkrgfan]

To be honest, I've never heard a professional psychologist to advise you trust everyone, this is a silly way to approach things because some people can screw you over quite badly, so as a result, you withhold a lot of information from others. The majority of CEOs are psychopaths, they climb the ladder quickly and they hold on for power as long as it takes by any means necessary, so antisocial folks can't be trusted no matter how much you try to trust them. At least what they should do is stop micromanaging, I'm not even talking about trust but micromanagement kills your soul and desire to go to work. In my opinion, Capitalism has to be reshaped into a fairer system before we begin talking and learning to trust.

[@marcellespeake4272]

Thank you so much for this. It made me cry. It validated me for the times I have spoken up for injustice only to be slapped down or ghosted. I just shut up and isolated, becoming a recluse. Thank you so much!!!😢

[@davidbellecy1709]

When I talk to people individually I find they agree with a lot of what I think. I have used this to slowly build groups to help push back against bad leadership. I am usually the most vocal, so I need to build support networks. Good luck, and may you all be blessed.

[@joelchess]

I'm so happy to see that this is actually being studied, talked about and shared. I myself have been trying to show my peers this for a while now but it's hard not knowing how to go about it. Now I can just share this video and hope they can understand. Thanks so much

[@TheGreatAwesome]

The bit about social media, the biggest problem is the upvote/downvote like/dislike button. Used to, people just talked to each other online. Rational arguments won out. If you were in favor of or against something or someone, you had to explain why. Now it's a popularity contest, a highly competitive one where it's all about getting the opposition ratioed. On Reddit, it just takes 4 anonymous people who disagree with you to hide your comment, essentially censored. And there's no gray area, there's like or dislike, good or evil. And since bots don't have write well-thought out counterarguments and just have to downvote or dislike, the Internet has become a hellscape. The solution to all of our problems is the removal of these buttons.

[@osopapi]

Interesting, but I have never found the majority to be at all rational, especially in the US. The majority in the US are Christians with all the strange and nonsensical beliefs that go along with that.

[@beachpeopleweddingsNCSC]

Keep up the brilliant work! Thank you!!

[@spensiir]

thank you for creating such a thought provoking and well intentioned video presentation ❤

[@TheSleepSteward]

Seeing how in truth, we're all just trying our best and that we all want virtually the same things, I am happy to say, I feel a lot better about the world. Thank you my friends.

[@The_Accuser]

Sure, black people should just _trust_ the police more... and all those raped native american girls should just _trust_ nazi's more. Then everything will just work out fine... And corporations like the makers of this video can keep on destroying our planet, keep destroying our democracy, can keep locking us up in privatised prisons, AND MAKE A FORTUNE with our demise! 🤪 JUHOO, where can I sign up for this brave new feel-good cult?

[@drbettyschueler3235]

I have been an "outsider" all my life. I am always challenging norms and coming up with radical new ways of solving problems. It rarely makes me popular until people see it actually works.

[@gratefulkm]

How Activated is your Amygdala, I'm not asking for me, I don't care, but you might learn something about yourself It's not a switch, it's an exponential curve

[@willow-er3ez]

Slay queen

[@TheHorseshoePartyUK]

Similar. We are trapped in Groupthink vs Groupthink to the Nth degree within these wider collective illusions, and part of the way out is breaking the Groupthink wars. I go about things in a totally sideways angle of attack mashing up being untrollable, counter-trolling, Philosophy, Psychology, Radical Centrism and Horseshoe Theory in essence. On social media, the vast majority of people just dip in, scroll a few minutes, look at the silly arguments and feel there's no sane voices of reason, pinned between all the extremes. I do my thing, melt heads and know how to do the concept of Minority Influence in my own way. I am a Semi-Reformed Master Troll. I am something forgotten to exist. Sanctimonious moral puritans hammered us Rightwing again and again. I have critical thinking skills, tell extremely naughty jokes in private, yet... I reason with woolly thinking people best I can in real ife, feel out if they're just naughty or a serious worry, try it in comment sections until it's time to give up and counter-troll, and if I ever need to phone the police a location and go *ALL IN* I absolutely will. I am a Brit. I am a Mancunian from the Party City. I am... The Dirty Left. No-one can make me obey their entirely imaginary authority over me. I am a dirtier, more hardy, nasty Clement Attlee x Alan Watts. "Russian Communism is... the illegitimate child of Karl Marx and Catherine the Great" - Sir Clement Attlee, 'Citizen Clem', PM of the Labour Party, the greatest peacetime PM in our history. Expanded welfare state massively, launched the NHS, started decolonisation, more reforms. Did more for Humanity than any people who read exclusively Marx ever ever will. *chuckles in BRITISH Socialism starting with Robert Owen*

[@MrBiscuit696]

You are not alone

[@mehere8038]

so do you desire fame? If you got fame, you could be one of those trailblazers they speak of, so it would be geninely useful to you, so wondering how you feel inside about it

[@sinfashion0]

This is truly amazing. Thank you so much for the video. I am extremely fascinated by the human brain, how we think, why we think the way we think, why we do things we do, etc. To me, mental freedom is the most important thing in life. To me, of course. That's my success. I don't follow or think because the majority of people do this. I have to do that, too. I know who I am and what makes me happy, and I feel free. If only people can see their true self and appreciate who they are, I think the world would be a different place. My motto is "Who cares?" If someone talks about me or if people don't agree the way I live, or I stress about things that don't really matter. Never. I understand we all are different, but if only if we can appreciate life itself and yourself.

[@observeroflife2024]

This was fascinating. Thank you for sharing. It is so nice to see psychology being used in a more productive manner. 👍

[@bigthink]

Are you a fan of Big Think? Check out bigthink.com for new articles every day!

[@pellaxestorba4836]

Amazing whiteboard in that meeting room. So huge that whiteboard.

[@muffinbutton8858]

Video would be much better without the distracting music throughout. I'd rather just listen to the person speak.

[@clydekimsey7503]

What is the gift?

[@willieinthewild3336]

Don't trust link lol but I trust my fellow community comments

[@KWifler]

This guy is slightly wrong about why people lie. It's because of intolerance. People are both intolerant and afraid of conflict. Tolerance fosters honesty.

[@ashleyh321]

I’m in awe of this video. Reminds me of the prisoner’s dilemma too; if we believe “the other guy” (a stranger, your coworker, whoever) isn’t trustworthy that incentivizes our own untrustworthy behavior, and that downward spiral destroys the things we all truly want (connection, security, meaning). This is such an important video, thank you for waking us up.

[@BigHenFor]

When it rains you have a choice to make. Do you continue to walk in the rain? Or do you seek shelter and wait until the weather changes for the better? Your choice will be shaped by your perceptions of your own agency. And whatever you believe about that will be true. Choose Wisely.

[@doggo6517]

Remember that these studies all rely on self-reporting - everyone [subjectively] reports themselves to have certain idealized values, but if you [objectively] observe their choices they might be entirely different.

[@phoebeel]

I think people are, deep down, good to each other. When huge catastrophic events happen like the earthquake earlier this year, people don't run around raping and killing each other, they genuinely want to help other people. Shows/films about a post apocalyptic world always suggest that we'll all become rapists and mass murderers as soon as there's no government anymore. But I believe that we'll actually become more cooperative than we are now because we'll need to help each other - not many people can grow food or make clothes or build houses. So we need to help and learn from each other

[@PaulJacksonOttawa]

Brilliant! Watched it twice. Outstanding just outstanding. Great work here. Thank you for sharing

[@hansmachado9163]

Endless thanks! Thank you for generating and sharing this knowledge.

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

"Don't carry that distortion over to the way you treat people in real life". Brilliant

[@travislrogers]

Brilliant message! This needs to be seen by the masses!

[@bopshi]

this is amazing. thank you for your work Todd & Populace.

[@ContentRemoved___]

Excellent video! Thanks for posting 😊

[@TheMitch1955]

So glad I found this site. For the most part of my life I've thought education was worthless. Photosynthesis has never been part of my life and I've too often wondered why the educators of Australia thought I should know about it and it's only one of the many 'things' I learned about which have never had anything to do with my life. It seems to me for the most part, education has been a form of detention while parents work for rich people. If education commenced with informing children about the coming years and the physical, emotional and psychological changes they were about to experience in their lives, there may not have been as many girl-mothers and boy-fathers as there are. If for the first six years of education children were taught what to expect from the experiences in life, they could also be taught ways of dealing with isolation, teenage angst and all other trials our children suffer through for lack of knowledge thereof. If a girl of twelve years is fully informed of the physical, emotional and psychological changes that are about to befall her and has a support network built into society to help and guide her through the coming turmoils she will be well and truly for-armed to deal with those natural changes. Then, with the next six years of education, she can study for her career in whatever field she should choose. Of course, the same must apply for boys. We are at the very forefront of civilization, yet teenage boys are killing each other in the name of becoming a man... It is all wrong and it has got to change.

[@kasondaleigh]

Photosynthesis is literally what allows humans to survive, so it does affect your life every single day. No photosynthesis = no food, no oxygen, no humanity. Just saying.

[@isaac1572]

I agree, How, why and what we think are the most important areas of knowledge not covered by formal education.

[@TheMitch1955]

@@kasondaleigh The point I was making is that I have had no work in this field. I can and do live without such knowledge and would have probably been happier in life if I had been taught how to deal with and handle money better, instead of learning something I have no use for...PS, I also have learned to live without such knowledge, I'm nearly 70 now and a happy man, unfortunately, not all men are happy within themselves because too often too many see money as the key to success, when that key is spiritual contentment.

[@edthoreum7625]

antiNatalism,,,

[@simonyang3704]

Who’s « they »? Most lessons are learnt through hardship. There is no easy way; life sucks. But it’s also good. And that’s that. Why are you playing the victim? And who are you accusing of having caused your misery? Do « they » have a name or is it just « they »? Do you realize that you now are « them »? Are you doing anything about it? Are you helping others? There you go here is your answer.

[@svgPhoenix]

Not only is the vocal minority of Twitter more extreme than the silent majority of Twitter, the silent majority of Twitter users is more extreme than the people who don't even use Twitter.

[@myghoulishheart]

Great video - looking forward to bringing this into the classroom!

[@thingsnstuff85]

This is some excellent research Todd!!! Thank you so much! I’ve participated in collective illusions for far too long but now that I’m out of it, well mostly anyways, it’s sad to see sooo many people getting even deeper in it. I wish the best for humanity and I hope to someday see Planet Earth being completely respectfully GENUINE with one another ❤️

[@mackieincsouthsea]

Such a fascinating video. I've always had these feelings that a lot of people are just going along with things that simply aren't designed with empathy and compassion for regular people in mind.

[@Theowlwas]

I've always said that if you asked any individual about their morals and values you'd get pretty much the same response/answers, yet if you applied the same to a group, the answers would start to get skewed dependant on the size of the group.

[@hellwithit]

It's not so much size that matters. But mass. What do I mean 100 or 1000 in a group. Your past a general limit to matter how size affects your thinking. And depending on the individual, has as much or more impact on your direction of lean. 😅 Personally, f_ the group. Some people may feel that heard instinct if the group is single digits other people may not feel that way, until you reach a higher level of members in the group.

[@la_princesse_des_beauxarts]

Love the comparison with artists! Thank you for this video ❤

[@neologian1783]

Fantastic video. My only gripe is at 22:05 where it's noted that we share 8 out of 10 top priorities in common which are nothing short of core American values. I don't doubt it. The problem, it seems to me, are our differences in terms of how we would achieve those values. Of course a private opinion poll will reveal most people want things like being treated equally, accountable leaders, and safe communities. But we seem to differ wildly with respect to how to realize those aspirations. Do we merely want to to be treated equally or do we want government to impose equal outcomes? Do we want ALL of our leaders to be accountable or merely the leaders of the "opposing" side while remaining blind or indifferent to the indiscretions of "our team"? Do we want to achieve safer communities through increased law enforcement and police presence or do we believe our communities are made safer by a reduction in such things? And so wanting all the same things is nice to say on its surface.....but the divisions emerge when you start getting into the details of implementation I think.

[@qwlea]

This was truly a spectacular and intriguing insight into the woes of modern society. I think the biggest factor for a good portion of these collective illusions is clearly the advent and subsequent ubiquity of social media. I have never used social media in my life, and have no qualms about being straightforward and to the point when it comes to expressing my own opinion, but I feel that social media makes so many feel marginalized and unimportant in the face of IG models, radical politicians, and social media celebrities. We as people have so much more to offer to each other if we just sat down and had candid, civil conversations about many of these topics, and it becomes very clear that the dominant tool for social reform, social media, has been used to primarily promote reform the large majority of us do not want. There's also something to be said about the way social discourse has turned into a 1v1 political match, even if many of us could find common ground in many of our private thoughts. Politics should never be about your identity as a person, or who's side you're on, but a vehicle to drive positive social change for everybody. People nowadays are so afraid to have a disagreement--rightfully so, I might add--due to the radicalization of politics, and so many believing that our differing thoughts can't be reconciled. If we just took the time to share our thoughts, and listen to each other in kind, I truly think the world could be a much better place. We all have something to learn from one another, regardless of who we are, or how long we've been on the planet.

[@megurubeta]

Um.. ok but KZbin IS a social media and you're engaging with it to the extent of commenting, right?!. Bit of an overstatement you've never used social media?! Just saying.. Honesty starts with being clear/aware about things, and then you can be precise, truthful. First part of the vid was about don't lie to yourself, don't lie to others. Just said with fancy/new sounding words that might appeal to younger generations who beg to differ from the old. Anyway i hope the moral message gets through (and reaches more ppl) which is to stop the fucking lies to bring a good change into the world.

[@borz5223]

Why should one feel the need to share their thoughts in the first place? The only interest there is in validating certain ideas about themselves. If everyone in the world just shut themselves up for 1 minute, more change will have happened than in a year of people repeating nonsense to each other.

[@qwlea]

@@borz5223 The only way to have a change of thought or opinion is to be exposed to new ones. I do believe far too many people act as though changing their beliefs is a cardinal sin, but, if everybody kept quiet, how would any thought be progressed at all? There's no magical way to determine who should keep quiet and who should speak. If you want others to be interested in what you have to say, you must first express interest in what others have to say.

[@borz5223]

@@qwlea People have made themselves insensitive to the natural ways the body communicates by all the time trying to fit in with how everyone else is functioning. We have fallen prey to this idea of maintaining a behavior pattern out of fear and our nervous system pays the price. Anxiety, depression, and all sorts of ‘mental disorders’ are the result of forcing the body to follow a fallacious order created by society. Naturally, we have an inbuilt capacity to gauge and understand people and situations enough to respond accordingly. Body language, posture, and the tone in which somebody talks says a lot more about them than the words and information coming out of their mouth. You’d be surprised to know that what we refer to as feelings and emotions have vibrational signatures and even carry distinct scents as signals. Unfortunately, the fear of insecurity and intimacy has led a vast majority of people to tune out the sensitivity of the nervous system by constantly thinking and repeatedly engaging in pleasures and comforts.

[@borz5223]

@@qwlea Artificial Intelligence nowadays is doing a far greater job with information and data processing than all these intellectuals and politicians combined. But people will still engage in mental masturbation through conversation because it offers a nice kick of adrenaline to the brain when a point is proven.

[@MoisesEmanuelQ]

From an anon standpoint I am always doing my best to challenge what others think. Sometimes strongly and sometimes delicately. However, the main goal is to influence, persuade, and challenge each other’s thinking, especially when there is a lofty idea that is taken for granted as the high truth.

[@kiilu48]

Bro you are amazing, great perspectives and analysis, clean concise and to the point, massive!

[@TheCorrupt420]

This was amazing, thank you!

[@jbsilver96]

This is an awesome video. It is super interesting and well explained how we can be convinced that the majority believes something when in fact they don't. This makes the individual feel isolated by their beliefs, when in reality they share the same beliefs as the people they are feeling isolated from! Crazy. Thanks for making this phenomenon so clear in this video so that we can become more aware of the illusions we live in.

[@ClifftopTragedy]

Isn't that the very function of propaganda? It's not necessarily to convince you that the lie is true but to convince you that everyone else believes it. That way you will shut up

[@bestoffriends3281]

I heard of a study done where they had a room of participants.. 1 was a random willing individual & the rest, unbeknown to the 1, were people involved in the experiment. They showed everyone a picture of an apple and were then asked what it was. The individuals conducting the experiment were told to say the picture was a banana prior to the experiment taking place. The 1 random went along with the group & called the apple a banana. 🤯

[@Sarah-re7cg]

@@bestoffriends3281 tbh I wonder if that was them just going with it or the effects of gaslighting.

[@bestoffriends3281]

@@Sarah-re7cg I'm certain it was them just conforming to the group thought. I believe that's what the experiment was actually about. Showing how easily people crumble under pressure.

[@Sarah-re7cg]

@@bestoffriends3281 true. you know what though, I think social pressure can also be a form of gas lighting (just as a side note, not commenting on the study you’re referring to)

[@LearnThaiRapidMethod]

Maybe we can trust each other most of the time, but many of us have learned through experience not to trust certain institutions or individuals like politicians, financial advisers, FB sellers or any kind of marketing/advertising product, or the food we eat, or the lies we are bombarded with in the “mainstream” media. We may do so the first time, it once scammed twice shy.

[@The_Accuser]

We have been conditioned to NEVER look at the FRAMING of a presentation. That's why at first glance, I too was overwhelmed with several positive statements of this video. But something is very off with the whole framing: "You the people are fighting too much, we the corporations just want _whats best for you."_ The most overlooked collective bias in the comment section: Noone seems to notice that this video was made by an ADVERTISEMENT CORPORATION. Yeah, we should _definitely_ trust them! No need to distrust them or any media that keeps equating a middle of the road social democrat like Bernie Sanders to the Nazi movement that is willing to kill Americans to overthrow our constitution. No need to distrust a FRAMING that EQUATEs activists for renewable energy with terrorists who want to commit serial genocide. This video is probably the most state of the art propaganda piece in existence. Putin would be very proud of Todd Rose.

[@realretta]

@@The_Accuser Brilliant.

[@sonkeschmidt2027]

It's the disadvantage of our size. When you are in a small tribe and everyone depends on each other then doing something "bad" has immediate and very clear repercussions. But with our huge populations the feedback is just too slow or sometimes nonexistent. If you don't see and feel the consequences of your actions you can't learn. If all you see is numbers your brain is entrained on changing the number's in a way that rouses dopamin. You don't live together with the person that starves as a consequence of these numbers going up.

[@Eitya]

This video echoed with me, as a child I was forced to conform to groups I was not willing to be part of, got punished, but fought with it. This reaffirmed my childhood feelings, that were yet invalidated by my teachers...

[@dannyb7166]

The anecdotes used were all great haha i loved the one about the mimes and the traffic lol

[@machopicchu]

How true, at 67 I have seen a lifetime of this wrong-headed management strategy. I have seen it over and over again: when things go awry it is because of lost trust.

[@davidleonard37]

I think as I have gotten older I have realised a lot of these things but Im probably part of the silent majority. I am trying to change that and be an example to my friends and family as I know secretly they agree with some of what I have to say but won't agree publicly for fear of not fitting in with the group. We need more disruptors from within the community. Also I'm a general manager and if I want change to happen in my organisation it doesn't come from me, I seek out the influencers who will be the change you want to see happen and show others what they do to influence them. Fear holds people back.

[@sophiashekinah9872]

This is very enlightening with phenomenal implications! Thank You.

[@jeffharper407]

Thank you for sharing your time. This information is useful

[@qnxvr576]

Did I miss a statement of the survey sample size? I'm fine with general references to relative majority/minority but without sample size and peer-reviewed published research (which I haven't looked to see if this has been) I'm not sure how much to trust this is representative. Genuinely asking btw, I skipped around trying to find it and checked the description but didn't find it.

[@loricrawford1952]

This explains a lot and answers my confusion when politicians and media say something is the "will of the people" or ascribe certain characteristics to "we the people", when I know what they are saying is not true. I'm sharing this video with my 3 daughters, I think it's important to understand this concept of "collective illusion" so we recognize what's really going on in our culture. We are being lied to about who we are. "As a free people in a free society, it is unacceptable that our public institutions treat the people as distrustful"

[@borz5223]

What I’ve observed is our failure to solve our own petty issues and as a means of hope and comfort, we listen to the ramblings of politicians, psychologists, and other experts who think they know what they’re saying. Our relying on such authorities is making it more and more impossible to solve whatever issue there is on our own. We don’t seem to really want to be completely finished with a problem as that’ll render certain conclusions we have taken from our parents, teachers, and friends and lovers as childish and invalid. So the fear is always about what others have to say.

[@deathwrenchcustom]

When the teacher says, "Don't be afraid to ask questions. Other people probably have the same question but will never raise their hand." Almost EVERYONE has that question, but they are afraid to become the center of attention, even for a brief moment. They are all secretly glad that someone had the courage to raise their hand, though they might never tell you.

[@SolarGranulation]

I sometimes think that autism is advantageous in matters such as these. Being largely unaffected by the urge to fit in, along with being essentially deaf and blind to whatever social cues subtly drive conformity, makes one far less likely to echo what everyone else says. I don't think it protects us from sharing misapprehension of the thoughts of others, but from going along with it.

[@theeyeofday]

I would love to hear the interactions between societal trauma and collective illusions. The trauma we have gone through as a society, I believe, has had great implications in our interactions with one another.

[@pogofuzz]

Gabor Mate speaks about this in his book "The Myth of Normal" and has done You Tube interviews. You might check him out.

[@theeyeofday]

@@pogofuzz thank you so much!!

[@patsicotte4400]

I love the way he is confident in what he’s saying and this could (should) be seen by everyone

[@onlypearls4651]

... or is he?

[@kiralfe]

wow this was incredible! thank you

[@thesjkexperience]

Thank you! Lots to think about. 🎉😊

[@Chris-cx8vr]

Absolutely amazing! Thank you for showing this documentary. Absolutely mind blowing, but also not entirely surprising either. Society can change for the better from the roots up.

[@KaoXoni]

What I take away from this: Step #1 (Master Habit): Consistently ask people what they think others think about an issue, along with what they personally think. Step #2: Observe the gap, step #3: build from there.

[@summerbrouwer4258]

This is the coolest video ever!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@ahlamamr4659]

This is a very good video. there is a lot of things he said that I see especially with the younger generation thing my younger sister told me she wanted to be rich and famous once and I remember we had a long conversation why she would want that and what she can gain and how she can achieve it. I didn't tell her it's bad but I tried to tell her it doesn't mean happiness and success. I think this matter got better when I started art school this year I let her help me with my assignments and she became really fond of photography and barely talks about material things.

[@meandyouagainstthealgorith5787]

Outreach is the key to defeating the collective illusion. The problem with outreach today is the multiple choice bubble forms. Bubble forms defeat the purpose of outreach because it assumes that person doing the outreach knows the answers to the question. Leadership requires to get out into the public and ask the question face to face. Don't rely on bubble forms because they defeat the purpose of outreach.

[@corujariousa]

This reality, based on good research and unbiased statistics, is the type of message we should have all major Media Outlets broadcasting all the time. It helps focus public opinion on what is real, important and even what can unite society. Unless there is no interest from those institutions...

[@nessman69]

Amazing video, SO timely, bravo, well done

[@raagjoshi4521]

By far the best video I have ever seen on social issues.

[@franksierow5792]

22:05 I think it is very easy for people to agree on this list, but crucial things are: A. Just what they mean by these things in more detail? B. What are the ways to achieve For example, item 1: individual rights: the right to own guns? the right to have an abortion? the right to not have high taxes? the right to an ambulance when needed without being bankrupted? the right not to be surrounded by people with guns. Item 2: high quality healthcare. Modern health technology can be very expensive in resources, etc. Is it possible for everyone to have the very best? I suspect that resources do not exist for everyone to be able to access them. "The devil is in the detail."

[@laurendoe168]

While we may share 8 of the top ten priorities, the division comes when discussing how to achieve them. The #1, for example "People have individual rights" - some seem to think this includes "I have the right to act in a manner that may kill you."

[@vkrgfan]

Exactly LOL He made it sounds like all we do is take in from social media, where in fact we experienced shitty behavior from people in real life.

[@TheFreedomGypsy]

There is nothing more important in a society than individual liberty. No one, especially government, has the right to restrict a population's collective freedom in an effort to prevent unknown harm that may or may not happen at the hands of a few selfish individuals. We face risks of many kinds every day when we wake up. No one has the authority or right to force people to give up their personal liberty for the sake of safety.

[@laurendoe168]

@@TheFreedomGypsy Tell this to the US Justice system. People have (rightfully) gone to prison for causing unforeseen harm.

[@friendlyfire7861]

And health care to many means socialized health care when this is not the optimal course. That's not a snap-you-fingers-we-agree issue.

[@friendlyfire7861]

@Christopher Grant It would be really detrimental in the US as you say because it would just be the final triumph of the monopolistic companies like pharmaceuticals. But every "universal" system would still do better with elements of a genuine free market.

[@TheNaiveMonk]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@user-df3gf6wh1x]

One thing that impresses me most is the collective illusion, in addition, I remembered how he used the examples of Bogot Mimes for confromity bias and Vietanum shrimps for positive deviation. For me, I think most of my life has been in collective illusion and it takes time to realize that. So for those who wonder about the meaning of life, this video will be very useful.

[@ZachPincince]

This is a phenomenal video with such a crucial message for the world - thank you for making this 🙌

[@timorda4645]

Well it's might be a good message for the world but how we can believe in this when we see in real life USA making a devil out of Russia in Americans ppl eyes?

[@ImaginationBlue]

This is the best presentation I have seen in a long time. Sharing to Facebook, and individually with friends.

[@loricrawford1952]

Me too!

[@timfriday9106]

I love this video so much. I'm forwarding it to my professors.

[@misstuxbrandi]

This is the kind of work I wanna do. Surveys, data collection and analysis on social relationships or health data in general. I find it so intriguing