The Neuroscience of Religious Extremism
Summary
TLDRThe transcript explores how the parietal lobe and amygdala in the brain influence extremist behavior and religious extremism. The parietal lobe affects one's sense of unity and connectedness within a group, often leading to a distorted perception of reality. The amygdala, responsible for fear and anxiety, heightens the fear of outsiders, reinforcing the group's beliefs and hostility towards those with alternative views. The discussion highlights how these brain regions contribute to strong group cohesion and the potential dangers of extremist ideologies.
Takeaways
- đ§ The discussion focuses on two brain regions: the parietal lobe and the amygdala, and their roles in extremist group behaviors.
- đ„ The parietal lobe is associated with the sense of unity and connectedness within a group, which can lead to the exclusion of others.
- đ Newberg explains that as group unity strengthens, those outside the group are perceived more negatively, altering the individual's perception of self and the world.
- đ Strong social cohesion within a group can warp a person's sense of reality, making the group's belief system seem more real while alternative ideas appear unreal or evil.
- â ïž Unity within a group can be positive but also dangerous, leading to conformity that diminishes objectivity and critical thinking.
- đ A biblical passage is referenced to illustrate how unity can be encouraged in religious contexts, but it may also lead to a loss of individual perspective.
- đš The amygdala, the brain's fear center, becomes active when a person's belief system is challenged by alternative viewpoints, causing anxiety and fear.
- đ The fear of outsiders is intensified in fundamentalist groups, where the amygdala's activation leads to the perception of outsiders as controlled by evil forces.
- đ Even after leaving an extremist group, the fear response triggered by the amygdala can persist, affecting a person's emotions and worldview.
- â Newberg concludes by questioning what individuals feel 'at one' with, warning that extreme unity within a limited belief system can lead to antagonism and potentially violent outcomes.
Q & A
What brain regions are discussed in the script in relation to religious extremism?
-The script discusses the parietal lobe and the amygdala in relation to religious extremism.
How does the parietal lobe contribute to the sense of unity within a group?
-The parietal lobe contributes to the sense of unity by altering the perception of self in relation to the world and others, reinforcing a sense of oneness and connectedness with a particular ideology or group.
What effect does a strong sense of unity have on a person's view of those outside their group?
-A strong sense of unity can cause individuals to view those outside their group more negatively, as they may see alternative ideas as unreal, evil, or threatening.
Why might cult members feel they have lost their sense of reality?
-Cult members might feel they have lost their sense of reality because the parietal lobe alters their sense of self and worldview in response to strong social cohesion, leading them to view the group's belief system as the sole reality.
What role does the amygdala play in religious extremism?
-The amygdala, which is responsible for processing fear and anxiety, becomes highly active when an individual's belief system is challenged, leading them to reject alternative perspectives and maintain their current beliefs to reduce anxiety.
How does fear of outsiders manifest in extremist groups, according to the script?
-Fear of outsiders in extremist groups manifests through the activation of the amygdala, as members believe that outsiders are controlled by a malevolent force, reinforcing hostility and distrust towards them.
What happens when the brain perceives an alternative belief system as potentially correct?
-When the brain perceives an alternative belief system as potentially correct, it triggers anxiety and fear, prompting the individual to dismiss the alternative belief to reduce discomfort and maintain their current worldview.
What is the connection between unity and conformity mentioned in the script?
-The script connects unity with conformity, suggesting that while unity is often seen positively, it can lead to negative consequences by causing individuals to lose objectivity and critical thinking within a group.
Why might a person in a religious extremist group see outsiders as evil?
-A person in a religious extremist group might see outsiders as evil because their belief system teaches that those with alternative views are under the control of a wicked force, reinforcing fear and hostility.
What does Newberg suggest is a key question to ask when considering group unity?
-Newberg suggests asking, 'What exactly does a person feel at one with?' If a person feels unity with a limited set of beliefs or people, it can lead to antagonism and hatred toward those with different beliefs.
Outlines
đ§ Understanding the Parietal Lobe and Sense of Unity
This paragraph explores the neuroscience behind the sense of unity and connectedness in extremist groups, focusing on the role of the parietal lobe. According to Newberg, this brain region is responsible for altering one's perception of self in relation to the world, strengthening the bond within a group and fostering negative views of outsiders. The text emphasizes that the experience of unity can lead to distorted worldviews, particularly in cults, where group cohesion overrides objectivity and critical thinking. This sense of realness and unification makes the group's beliefs the primary reality for members, often at the expense of alternative perspectives.
đš The Amygdala's Role in Fear and Extremism
This paragraph delves into the involvement of the amygdala, the brain's fear center, in the context of religious extremism. It discusses how the amygdala is activated when fundamental beliefs are challenged, leading to heightened fear and anxiety. This neurological response makes it easier for individuals to dismiss alternative viewpoints to maintain comfort and security. The text highlights that in many fundamentalist groups, the fear of outsiders is deeply rooted, reinforced by religious doctrines that depict outsiders as under the influence of evil forces. Even after leaving such groups, this fear pathway can persist, illustrating the lasting impact of these beliefs on the brain's functioning.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄParietal Lobe
đĄAmygdala
đĄSense of Unity
đĄExtremist Groups
đĄCult
đĄBelief System
đĄConformity
đĄFear Response
đĄReality Perception
đĄSocial Cohesion
Highlights
Introduction to the neuroscience of religious extremism, focusing on the parietal lobe and amygdala.
Newberg discusses the sense of unity or connectedness as a critical ingredient in extremist groups.
The parietal lobe is affected by the sense of oneness and connectedness, altering the perception of self in relation to others.
Strong social cohesion in groups can lead to members viewing outsiders negatively.
Newberg explains that the sense of realness in a belief system makes it the reality for participants.
Ideas from outside the group are often seen as unreal or evil, leading to contempt and hatred.
Unity in groups can lead to conformity, causing a loss of objectivity and critical thinking.
The biblical reference from 1 Corinthians emphasizes unity, which can also have negative connotations.
The parietal lobe's role in altering self-perception and worldview under strong social cohesion.
The amygdala is identified as the fear center of the brain, activated by alternative viewpoints challenging core beliefs.
Newberg suggests that a different belief system's validity threatens an individual's worldview, activating the amygdala.
Fear of outsiders is a significant feature in fundamentalist groups, deeply activating the amygdala.
Even after intellectually rejecting a belief, the fear pathway in the brain can remain active.
Newberg's concluding question: 'What exactly does a person feel at one with?' emphasizes the importance of the nature of unity.
Strong amygdala reactions can lead to viewing others as evil, justifying extreme hostility and violence.
Transcripts
now let's move to the neuroscience
as i mentioned earlier we're going to be
talking about two particular brain
regions the parietal lobe and the
amygdala moving on newberg talks about
the sense of unity or connectedness
that is a critical ingredient in all
extremist groups newberg says and i
quote the sense of unity exists
primarily within the individual's given
group this is most evident in cults in
which a person or group of people
becomes so close that they completely
exclude others from the group
as their interactions continue their
belief system can become more and more
bizarre and extreme
end quote so what does this look like in
the brain
newberg continues and i quote
the sense of unity or connectedness is
believed to occur in large part in the
parietal lobe as a person experiences a
sense of oneness and connectedness with
a particular ideology or group the
parietal lobe is affected such that it
alters the perception of self in
relation to the world and in relation to
others as the sense of connection grows
stronger within the group
those outside the group holding ideas
contrary to the group are viewed in more
negative ways and quote
this sheds a lot of light on the
experience of cult members who really
feel like they've lost reality
when they get absorbed in this strong
collectivism
and can have this strong sense of
awakening when they finally remove
themselves from the group
this is a matter of the parietal lobe
altering our sense of self and our world
view in the face of a strong social
cohesion
given the strong social element then
getting caught up in a group like this
is not just about the convincing nature
of their arguments
but as newberg puts it and i quote these
experiences also carry with them a
profound sense of realness
the ideas espoused in the particular
belief system become the reality for the
participants
the more real and the more unified the
belief system becomes
the more its ideas become the reality
for that person and the more alternative
ideas become unreal or evil
since the ideas of people from different
belief systems are considered unreal or
evil a cult follower may have little
difficulty viewing those others with
great contempt and hatred believing that
they are perpetrating great evil and
hence need to be exterminated a complex
decision incorporating ethics philosophy
and theology end quote
when we think of unity
we usually put it in a positive light to
have a strong brotherly connection and
yet
unity is closely related to conformity
which of course has a negative
connotation
the idea that we would lose our
objectivity and our criticality in a
group
this reminds me of a biblical passage in
first corinthians chapter 1 verse 10
from the new world translation
now i urge you brothers through the name
of our lord jesus christ that you should
all speak in agreement and that there
should be no divisions among you
but that you may be completely united in
the same mind and in the same line of
thought
end quote what starts with warm and
fuzzies resulting from this work of the
parietal lobe can cross a threshold to
where our semblance of self and our
world view is warped by the strong
interconnectedness with the group the
second area of the brain associated with
a religious extremism is the amygdala
now we know that the amygdala is the
anxiety or fear center of the brain
now this goes back to the happy prison
of the brain and the very real threat
the very real fear that is experienced
when an alternative viewpoint challenges
the existential beliefs of the member of
an extremist group newberg says this and
i quote if the alternative belief system
is correct
that implies that the brain itself does
not really understand the world properly
a vulnerable position to be in
if we have an incorrect perspective on
the world then the emotional and anxiety
areas of the brain such as the amygdala
become highly active in order to force
us to find the correct information so
that we can live more effectively it is
far easier then to assume that the
alternative belief system is wrong and
that what we have believed all along is
still correct
this settles our brain down and makes us
feel much more comfortable end quote
in many fundamentalist groups the fear
of outsiders cannot be understated
the amygdala will certainly be activated
when religious doctrine states that a
supernatural wicked force who had the
power to manipulate my thinking towards
evil
existed outside the group's bounds and
that outsiders were not individually but
as a collective
under this wicked being's control and as
other ex-members will no doubt confirm
this neurological fear pathway remains
even after you understand intellectually
that is with the cognitive areas of the
brain like the prefrontal cortex that
the belief is not evidence-based
given that we all have a parietal lobe
which will help us feel unity with
others
and we all have an amygdala
which will make us feel
afraid of outsiders
newberg leaves us with this to conclude
chapter three and i quote the question
that always needs to be asked is
what exactly does a person feel at one
with
if the person feels that one with a
limited set of beliefs or a limited
group of people
there can be extreme antagonism and
hatred for people with alternative
beliefs and if the amygdala reaction is
strong the person might conclude that
not only are adherents to the
alternative belief system wrong
but evil as well
this can foment great anger and
hostility with the person ultimately
coming to the conclusion that
eradication is the only logical choice
end quote
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