
Look these are great soundbites… but #5 is practicing an emotional resilience technique that’s quickly becoming adopted by many people across the western world as more and more things are deepfaked (def not saying this topic under examination is a deepfake) If we allow ourselves to become enraged (in this case, rightfully so) anytime there’s headlines that prompt us, we become open to emotional manipulation by anyone who can write a headline.
not exactly. as a psychologist, balance is what allows us to be resilient, not ignorance. #5’s sentiment doesn’t mean anything because, whether they want to admit it or not, the cornell 7 DOES affect them (more specifically, how it was treated by its own administration affects anyone in the western world). #5 is actively denying the reality around them which is a direct threat to emotional resilience.
That’s true. Given your background in psychology, what do you recommend as a solution for the ongoing desensitization? I’ve regrettably taken part in experiments that try to force people to react/be emotional a certain way. I would rather there be some kind of willing incentive for people to re-engage.
i love the question!! desensitization is very commonly a defense mechanism that people deploy when theyre feeling emotionally exhausted or just generally when they feel like caring about a situation will be too emotionally costly (this is even more common when they feel like they have no autonomy in the situation. by that i mean, if someone feels like they cant help in a situation, they might try to not care so that they are not distressed by their own inability to help). 1/2
so for those reasons, it can be effective to give easy ways for people to engage in the conflict. contacting representatives about legislation are a really common example of this! sometimes it’s also influenced by a pessimistic perspective, so opening the doors to more conversations about justice that IS occurring around the world i think could also prove beneficial. it kind of shows that their actions matter. i’m of the opinion that desensitization can be a product of learned helplessness
Strangely enough what I believe you’re describing is common among veterans (at least my peer group) For them it’s not exactly “helplessness” but … we never see a green light by the public whether it be through law enforcement means, private contracting, deputation, etc. There’s this common vibe of “okay, when do you want us to go kill the bad guys… there’s obviously a ton of them out there.” We see things like the Cornell case or Epstein Island (1/2)
Respectfully, when you let apathy become normalized, you are desensitized to these things. Now idk about you, but I refuse to be desensitized to rape and I refuse to let it be normalized that people get away with it. I don’t care about whoever’s feeling being hurt by calling them “fucktard”. I care about the men and women and children who have been taken advantage of by a system designed for the ultra wealthy.
That’s fair. I still think your argument is stronger without it. When you make a true statement and no part of it is false, it’s very difficult for the person you’re saying it towards to disagree. Heck, they might even disagree with you in the moment but a heavy 100% true statement lingers in its audience like an anchor in their subconscious. (Psychology people… help me out, is that metaphor correct?)