I recently finished reading “Not Born Yesterday“, by Hugo Mercier. In this book, he makes the argument that people are not fooled, misled or deceived by propaganda, authority figures or cult leaders. Nor do any of these have a significant ability to change peoples’ minds.
Through numerous examples ranging from Hitler’s propaganda during WWII to McCarthyism in the 1950s to the “Moonies” in the 1970s to present day political performative theatrics, he explains how people are not gullible to having their minds changed through psychological manipulation.
Instead, he says, people believe what we want to believe. We seek ideas to justify our beliefs and discount ones that are contrary. Our minds are not changed by propaganda despite a long history of conventional wisdom claiming that we are easily manipulated.
Mercier says, propaganda can reinforce pre-existing beliefs and beliefs that otherwise were hidden because they were not socially acceptable (eg. Nazi beliefs, racism, left/right political extremes, etc.). Many times, he says, the effect of propaganda is negligible in changing beliefs and behaviors.
He also makes the case of people who are historically thought of as “gullible” were not. They chose to follow someone because that person espoused their beliefs and made their lives better (or at least did for a time). His examples include citizens who at one time supported Hitler, Mao, witch burning, communism, etc.
He lists other examples of people pretending to belief in propaganda out of fear from reprisals, violence and imprisonment (eg. North Korean citizens, Chinese citizens and others subject to violent authoritarian regimes). The people know what is actually true, but don’t dare utter it aloud for fear of punishment.
Later in the book, he analyzes cases of leaders who lie outrageously and engage in obvious hypocrisy. He says that these leaders don’t really believe their own bullshit. They are using this behavior to signal that they are on one “team” by intentionally burning bridges with the opposite team. In effect, they earn team credibility by publicly “burning bridges” with the other side. (Here I think of most political pundits, news media, politicians and commentators).
Mercier says that polarization is exaggerated by these people because there is no personal cost to them for their exaggerated, antisocial behavior, but much reward in terms of power, money and attention.
He provides practical advice for determining the trustworthiness of people you do not know well – ranging from a stranger on the street asking for help to a politician on television asking for you vote.
This book made me think about politics, society and morality from an entirely new perspective.
It was a fast and insightful read. I highly recommend it.