The War on What You Saw: The Psychology of Gaslighting at Scale
The Power and Purpose of Obvious Lies in Authoritarian Regimes
In this episode of PsyberSpace®, host Leslie Poston explores why authoritarian regimes tell obvious lies that contradict available video evidence and their psychological impact on the public. The discussion digs into how such lies serve to dominate rather than persuade, sorting the population, degrading shared reality, and forcing individuals to either accept the lie, stay quiet, or openly reject it. The episode also touches on concepts like institutional gaslighting, epistemic violence, and moral injury, highlighting the social costs and potential resilience strategies against these tactics. The upcoming part three will focus on the psychology of resistance and collective action.
00:00 Introduction to Authoritarian Lies
00:36 The Psychology Behind Obvious Lies
01:44 Propaganda and Domination
02:25 Sorting the Population
03:08 Degrading Shared Reality
03:37 Forcing a Choice
04:22 Institutional Gaslighting
05:05 Epistemology of Ignorance
06:32 Racist Gaslighting
08:02 Moral Injury and Exhaustion
10:14 The Cost of Dissent
12:27 Social Connection as Resistance
14:22 The Power of Documentation
14:53 The Vulnerability of Obvious Lies
15:24 Looking Ahead: The Psychology of Resistance
15:46 Conclusion and Sign Off
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In this episode of PsyberSpace®, host Leslie Poston explores why authoritarian regimes tell obvious lies that contradict available video evidence and their psychological impact on the public. The discussion digs into how such lies serve to dominate rather than persuade, sorting the population, degrading shared reality, and forcing individuals to either accept the lie, stay quiet, or openly reject it. The episode also touches on concepts like institutional gaslighting, epistemic violence, and moral injury, highlighting the social costs and potential resilience strategies against these tactics. The upcoming part three will focus on the psychology of resistance and collective action.
00:00 Introduction to Authoritarian Lies
00:36 The Psychology Behind Obvious Lies
01:44 Propaganda and Domination
02:25 Sorting the Population
03:08 Degrading Shared Reality
03:37 Forcing a Choice
04:22 Institutional Gaslighting
05:05 Epistemology of Ignorance
06:32 Racist Gaslighting
08:02 Moral Injury and Exhaustion
10:14 The Cost of Dissent
12:27 Social Connection as Resistance
14:22 The Power of Documentation
14:53 The Vulnerability of Obvious Lies
15:24 Looking Ahead: The Psychology of Resistance
15:46 Conclusion and Sign Off
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