The Neuroscience of Religious Extremism

Summary

The 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

• 🧠 The discussion focuses on two brain regions: the parietal lobe and the amygdala, and their roles in extremist group behaviors.
• 👥 The parietal lobe is associated with the sense of unity and connectedness within a group, which can lead to the exclusion of others.
• 🌀 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.
• 🌍 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.
• ⚠️ Unity within a group can be positive but also dangerous, leading to conformity that diminishes objectivity and critical thinking.
• 🙏 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.
• 😨 The amygdala, the brain's fear center, becomes active when a person's belief system is challenged by alternative viewpoints, causing anxiety and fear.
• 🔗 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.
• 🛑 Even after leaving an extremist group, the fear response triggered by the amygdala can persist, affecting a person's emotions and worldview.
• ❓ 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

00:00

🧠 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.

05:01

😨 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.

Keywords

💡Parietal Lobe

The parietal lobe is a region of the brain associated with processing sensory information and spatial awareness. In the context of the video, it plays a crucial role in the sense of unity or connectedness that individuals feel within a group, particularly in extremist groups. This sense of unity can alter a person's perception of self and others, leading to a stronger identification with the group and a negative view of outsiders.

💡Amygdala

The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for processing emotions such as fear and anxiety. In the video, it is highlighted as a key area involved in the fear response when a person's belief system is challenged. The amygdala's activation can make individuals in extremist groups feel threatened by alternative viewpoints, reinforcing their existing beliefs and increasing hostility towards outsiders.

💡Sense of Unity

The sense of unity refers to the feeling of connectedness and oneness with a particular group or ideology. This concept is central to the video's discussion of how extremist groups form strong bonds among members, often leading to the exclusion of others. The parietal lobe is implicated in this process, as it helps alter a person’s sense of self in relation to the group, strengthening the sense of unity within the group and contributing to the perception of outsiders as threats.

💡Extremist Groups

Extremist groups are organizations or movements characterized by radical beliefs and practices that are often far removed from mainstream society. The video discusses how the brain's parietal lobe and amygdala contribute to the formation and maintenance of these groups by fostering a strong sense of unity among members and a fear-based rejection of outsiders. The cognitive processes in these groups can lead to increasingly bizarre and extreme beliefs.

💡Cult

A cult is a group typically marked by extreme devotion to a particular ideology, leader, or belief system. The video mentions how cult members develop a sense of unity that becomes so strong that it excludes others, leading to a distorted perception of reality. This process is associated with the functioning of the parietal lobe, which alters the individual's self-concept in relation to the world, making the cult's belief system seem more real and other perspectives less valid.

💡Belief System

A belief system refers to the set of principles or tenets that guide a person's understanding of the world. The video discusses how belief systems within extremist groups become the 'reality' for their members, reinforced by the brain's parietal lobe and amygdala. This can lead to the rejection of alternative viewpoints as unreal or evil, contributing to the group's extreme and often dangerous behaviors.

💡Conformity

Conformity is the act of aligning one's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors with those of a group. In the video, it is discussed as a negative aspect of unity within extremist groups, where individuals lose their objectivity and critical thinking. The pressure to conform is linked to the functioning of the parietal lobe, which strengthens the individual's identification with the group at the expense of their independent judgment.

💡Fear Response

The fear response is the body's reaction to perceived threats, primarily managed by the amygdala. In the video, the fear response is discussed in the context of how members of extremist groups react to challenges to their belief systems. The amygdala becomes highly active, causing anxiety and reinforcing the rejection of alternative beliefs, which are perceived as threats to the group's ideology.

💡Reality Perception

Reality perception refers to how individuals interpret and understand the world around them. The video explores how the parietal lobe and amygdala influence reality perception within extremist groups. The strong sense of unity within the group can warp an individual's perception of reality, making the group's beliefs seem more real and valid while dismissing other viewpoints as false or evil.

💡Social Cohesion

Social cohesion is the bond that unites members of a group, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support. In the video, social cohesion is linked to the parietal lobe's role in creating a sense of unity within extremist groups. This strong social bond can lead to the exclusion of outsiders and the adoption of extreme beliefs, as the group’s shared reality becomes the dominant perception for its members.

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