UI 064: Why Hysteria and the 6 Human Needs (pt. 2)

In the last episode I discussed various hysterias (if that is the plural form... is there a plural for hysteria?), and why they are an ultimate issue (a main point being they distract from real evil and high risk threats). So, I figured in this episode I should tackle WHY people choose hysteria as a mode of operation.

I suppose I should first admit my assumption.  Yes, I think hysteria is typically a choice.  More importantly the thinking and behavior associated with hysteria is definitely a choice.  I'll use a current hysteria, Ebola, as an example.  The press has done there job in creating a big dramatic story out of a local tragedy.  Ebola is awful and tragic for Africans and anyone who happened to have contracted it and died from Ebola.  But as I said last week, the press is silent on Malaria or Tuberculosis or diarrhea in Africa - though any of those could kill more Africans in a day compared to the 4 month list of casualties due to Ebola.  So the press decided to report Ebola as a scary predator disease that will spread like wildfire... and there's nothing we can do about it.  AND the people reading or hearing the news also decided to not think for themselves, and question the validity of the news story.   People choose what they believe and who they trust.   Admittedly, some are more thoughtful and discerning than others, but to have so many people willfully give up their common sense, ability to reason, and think beyond stage one is rather disheartening.

Whether the hysteria be Ebola, global warming, or racism in America - the root issue boils down to the same principle, Human psychology.  Human psychology is rather simple and easy to predict and manipulate if you just know the rules of the game.

First of all humans are human and not Vulcan.  The fictional Vulcans of Star Trek are hyper rational and logic based race.  While they have emotions, they are trained to not be guided by them.  There is even a Vulcan system of Kolinahr which basically purges one of emotions and allows them to become a purely logical being.  But alas, this is not the ways of humans.  We are emotional and logical creatures.   However, similar to Vulcans we too get to decide which will dominate and guide our behavior - reason or emotions.

Let's face it, Ebola, Global Warming, and New World Order conspiracies are highly charged with emotions.  They are "shark bite" stories.  Graphic images and tragic scenarios lure your eyes and heart into a trance, and the next thing you know... BOOM! You are caught up in the hysteria.  The hysteria that people needless fall into are at best much ado about nothing or much ado about very little.  Yet, they consume many finite resources, time, and brain power trying to "fix" problems that are not that big.  For instance, we have American leadership who believe the greatest threat to America is Global Warming.  Not terrorism, not the national debt, not Russia, not Iran, not open borders, not a failing educational system, not asocial violence... No, global warming is what's going to get us.  Maybe not this year or next... but in 500 years watch out!  They'll be screaming "I told ya so!"  And because they are so hysterical and convinced this is a real threat, the Federal government is spending their limited time and money (and intelligence) coming up with new legislation to regulate citizens as well as industries (which just further hurts the economy), rather than focusing on balancing the budget and just stopping the massive hemorrhaging of money.  Or perhaps they could secure the borders.  How about immigration reform?  I typically don't want to government to do much, but if they are going to do something it better result in a good outcome (rather than just feeling good.)

Emotions are powerful and can't be denied (nor should they be.)  Emotions should be understood, and only in certain personal circumstances should they be your guide.

So lets try to understand why we do what we do... even when it is detrimental.  One of my beliefs is that nearly everyone's negative behavior is rooted in positive intent.  Of course, intent only gets you so far.  But it's important to understand most folks are not evil, rather they may be naive or misguided.

So when I reference the press or a politician, and the hysteria they defend... I am not saying they are evil or doing it to cause harm.  Actually, I assume their actions are rooted in positive intent.

Another belief I have is in regards to Human Needs Psychology.

Everyone, from every culture, from every generation operates off six basic psychological needs.

As taught by Tony Robbins and Cloe Madanes they are:

1. Certainty: The need to feel safe, secure, or certain about things
2. Variety: The need to feel change, uncertain, or challenged
3. Significance: The need to feel important, special, or needed.
4. Love/Connection: The need to feel a part of a community, family, or bond to another.
5. Growth: The need to feel development emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, or physically.
6. Contribution: The need to feel we have or are more than enough and have something to offer others.

Once you really understand how these six needs play out in your life, you will also be able to see how others are also driven by them.  In general, all human behavior and beliefs can be linked directly to one or more of these six needs.  And it doesn't matter if the behavior is "good" or "bad", people act because of these needs.

So how does hysteria work within the framework of Human Needs Psychology.

Let's start with the most obvious, VARIETY.  Remember that if you have too much certainty you will get bored and seek out some excitement and surprises.  You need to add some variety  to your unvaried, extremely certain life.  Hysteria is an easy way to do so.  Suddenly you don't know if your Big Mac is contaminated with Mad Cow disease.  Or did that mosquito have West Nile?  As odd as it may sound to some of you, people actually enjoy the uncertainty hysterias bring.  Hysteria can shift a boring life into a challenging and exciting  life - never knowing when disaster will strike.  Hysteria creates uncertainty in an otherwise certain and routine life.

Does hysteria fulfill any other needs? You bet.

Everyone needs to feel significant or special.  I find it fascinating how what start out as dietary restrictions become fads.  The most current one is "Gluten Free."  While I have family members who actually have been diagnosed with gluten allergies and have severe reactions when they consume gluten (so to be clear I am not dismissing gluten allergies/intolerances), I am also very wary of all  the people who now claim to need a gluten free diet.  Really?  You were just eating subways and pizza last year, and had no digestive or health problems... But this year you became allergic and can only eat gluten free?  Look I don't really care one way or the other (actually I'm grateful because the popularity has made it much easier for us to buy groceries - a few years ago it was rough.)  My point is that people who latch on to diet fads and hysterias feel significant and/or special.  When they go eat at restaurant they have to ask if this or that on the menu has gluten... and then explain the can't have gluten.  Or if they are going to a friends for a party, they need to make sure they request gluten free choices... again, because they are significant and special (but not so much so that they could just eat prior to going.) The reason I am on the diet fad thing, is because that is really where I see the hysteria - significance game played most often.  My theory is its due to the social aspect of eating, so its an easy way to show how special you are every time you eat which occurs every day and several times a day.

Another scenario is in regards to the Global Warming hysteria.  How does some get significance through buying into anthropocentric climate catastrophe?  Cars.  While someone can claim they are buying a hybrid because it saves them money on gas... the math just doesn't add up.  First of all there are great cars (some I have owned) that get 40+ mpg on petrol.  I've had several Volkswagen diesels (TDI) that got over 40 mpg, and known were more than $5000 used cars.  Even new they are typically much cheaper than hybrids.  Or I could use my old Toyota ECHO as an example.  That car got just over 40 mpg and was not a hybrid.  The first Prius (hybrid) was basically an ECHO with a hybrid motor... and it cost about $15,000 more.  But it only got about 5 t0 10 more miles per gallon (the biggest difference being city driving).  Well sales apparently not so hot with the first generation Prius, so Toyota got smart and made a new one that looked nothing like the ECHO.  And that is still the Prius you basically see today.  Oh, and they got rid of the ECHO.  My point is that having a noticeably hybrid or electric vehicle is a way for folks to feel significant and special.  If car manufactures were to make hybrids or electric cars without any insignia or special designs... sales would likely fall as they would no longer be an overt status symbol.

Are there any other needs fulfilled via hysteria?  Actually I can show example after example of how each psychological need could be met via hysteria.  For instance, Love/Connection: The hysteria over the environment creates a connected community of like minded individuals.  It has grown to the point that they love one another, and should you differ with them then you are a "denier" (akin to a holocause denier  I suppose.)  You really saw this with the Occupy Movement.  We all witnessed victim hysteria and the love/connection they satisfied as they culminated together to fight their conspiritorial "oppressors".    When pressed on what their purpose was, or even in hind-sight what they accomplished... once again we see the hysteria was much ado about nothing.  We also see they power of social proofing and confirmation bias.  Love and connection is a powerful need that cannot be underestimated.

Growth is simple to see.  Look at the lives of many trust fund kids or super wealthy celebrities.  They're psychological need for growth is stymied by the lack of need to produce, so they try to achieve growth through their "awareness" of whatever hysteria is the current fad.  Ever notice how celebrities with little background or education in science become experts about disease, climate, or diet?

By the way this is also an example of how hysteria fulfills the need for contribution.  The attention given to hysterias is staggering considering all the real and significant threats to peoples' existence.  People are giving time and money to fight Ebola, but not malaria or tuberculosis.  Why?  Because Ebola is a big, scary monster and a person can feel their contribution to fight Ebola is more significant than one for something as boring as malaria (even though Ebola has claimed probably around 1000 lives over the last five months versus the more than 500,000 African children every year who die of malaria.)

What about Certainty?

One of the weird parts of hysteria that I have noticed is that it lulls many people into a false sense of security.  For instance, people think that since they recycle and drive a hybrid, they are helping save the planet and are good people.  Maybe they are, maybe they are not... Look if someone irresponsibly abuses and trashes the environment or animals that person is a problem, but just because you care for the environment and love animals doesn't mean you are a good person.  The Nazi's were extremely eco-conscience and "green" building parks and animal sanctuaries when not engaged in slaughtering Jews.  Plus, Nazi's were against animal cruelty even banning vivisection on animals, though they performed vivisection (and worse) to Jews.  Just because you recycle, ride a bicycle, or drive a hybrid, don't be so certain it reflects your upright moral character.

Also don't be so certain you are making any impact.  Even if we all reduced our "carbon footprint" to nearly zero, that would meaning nothing to our climate.  A volcano could erupt and blanket our skies for years, or any number of naturally occurring phenomena could occur and be disastrous at any moment.  Hurricanes, tornados, fires, earthquakes, and asteroids will continue to threaten our Earth despite your reduction in carbon emissions.  But regardless, for some environmentalists, that emotional need for certainty is fulfilled every time they plug in their car.

I am NOT saying that hysteria fulfills all human needs for all people.  But I am saying that for some people, buying into hysteria fulfills one or more psychological needs.  The more needs a hysteria fulfills, the greater a person latches onto and commits themselves to the hysteria.  Also it become more difficult to convince them otherwise, as this would mean filling those needs through some other unknown means.

Regardless, we must think with our minds and not be led astray by our eyes or hearts.  We must be diligent and guard how we go about satisfying our six psychological needs.  Ultimately, these needs should be fulfilled through worthwhile means... Doing the most good for ourselves as well as others.  While the intent maybe good, the outcome is more important.