Causing Self-Contradiction Acts is Fear & Loneliness
Fear and loneliness deeply embedded by past conditioning can drive people to act or speak in ways that contradict their beliefs, values and character.
These actions come from an aching vulnerability or need for connection, over time these compensating mechanisms can pull people into patters of behavior that harden into their identity.
A colleague becomes unusually hostile or competitive, A loved one begins gossiping or stoking drama within your family, A relative suddenly aligns with an extreme political movement for those we care about, it may be worth intervening. Give them grace.
Seek to understand what may be driving their uncharacteristic actions. Remember how frustrating and common it is to act in ways that you know are out of step with your ideal self.
Also remember that in the attention economy, fear and loneliness are weaponized against us. Media platforms exploit these vulnerabilities to simulate connection, stoke outrage, capture attention(sell advertising), and manipulate us into spreading more of the same.
“Fear sells. Fear makes money.”
- Daniel Gardner The science of Fear
