Not entirely my fault

Street Art in Mexico City

In my previous post's conclusion, I delved into the intricate web of my addictive relationship with food, acknowledging that not all my experiences were solely my fault. While I must take responsibility for my overeating habits, I cannot discount the other forces entangled within this complex dynamic. Allow me to make an attempt at unraveling it. Our world bombards us incessantly with information, engaging our nervous systems from dawn till dusk. Simultaneously, an increasing number of individuals find themselves secluded and isolated from fellow human beings. This is not a new phenomenon, but surely you've heard about the Surgeon General's recent advisory, which raises an alarm regarding the devastating impact of loneliness and isolation in the United States. It states, "disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily." Take a moment to absorb the gravity of these words.

As loneliness permeates our lives, online existence steps in to fill the void, promising comfort, convenience, and a perceived sense of security. Technological advancements, in and of themselves, are not the issue and have undeniably enhanced productivity and improved our lives. However, our relationship with them has become imbalanced and challenging. With our limited biological, psychological, and mental conditioning, we make choices without mindfulness, gradually ensnaring ourselves, preventing the true essence of our being from shining through. Not only are we making mindless choices, but we are also manipulated into making them. As the renowned American biologist, Dr. Edward O. Wilson, astutely remarked, "We have paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology." Over a short span, as social creatures, we swiftly adapt our behavior to the newest technological advancements, opting for the shortest and easiest path they offer. Combined with a dearth of strong personal values and an inclination to adhere to societal norms, we are relinquishing the beauty of our human existence, allowing ourselves to metamorphose into a world driven by numbers, materialism, and relentless capitalism. Government institutions lack the capability to adequately address the evolution of such technological advancements, as market forces continually exploit mass human mindlessness to their advantage. Even politicians employ these same tactics for personal gain and benefit.

You might ask, how are we manipulated into making mindless choices? To present my case, I would like to introduce you to a book called "Nudge," a remarkable work co-authored by two professors: Cass Sunstein, a law professor, and Richard Thaler, a behavioral economics professor, both hailing from the University of Chicago. Thaler has collaborated with Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, and together they have pushed the boundaries of decision-making science in recent years. Nudge enlightens its readers about how one can unconsciously make better decisions by designing an environment that nudges people in the right direction when temptation looms largest. They delve into the concept of choice architecture, emphasizing that "the first misconception is that it is possible to avoid influencing people's choices. In countless situations, some organizations or agents must make a choice that will affect the behavior of some other people. There is, in situations, no way of avoiding nudging in some direction, and these nudges will affect what people choose. Choice architecture is inevitable."

Therefore, I argue, based on the scientific evidence amassed in the behavioral sciences, what external controls or choice architectures exist to ensure that human beings are not nudged or manipulated into mindless choices? After all, the same science that can nudge us toward wise decisions can also be employed to push us into mindlessness. Let's break this down into something tangible that we are likely experiencing right at this moment.

You may have watched the thought-provoking documentary "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix or be well aware of the challenges posed by social media platforms, yet you might feel helpless in regulating your usage. You may decide to go on a social media fast, limit your time, delete the app, or even deactivate your account. However, each time you reintroduce the apps, within a short period, you find yourself mindlessly engaged with them. It becomes incredibly difficult to break free from their grasp, as they have woven themselves into the very fabric of our lives. The government lacks the capacity to enforce nudges that would foster greater well-being in relation to these technologies, and capitalistic ideologies do not incentivize such efforts. The more time you spend on social media, the more products and advertisements are pushed upon you, driven by the demands of the market.

Every few years, we face economic recessions, pandemics, financial meltdowns, global conflicts, and disruptive technological changes. These events set in motion a series of cascading effects, leading to the mass relocation of assets and people. As a result, human beings are left to navigate these tumultuous winds, forced to adopt self-centered ways as they search for preventive solutions to cope with the stress. This ongoing struggle has given rise to a booming personal development market, estimated at $44 billion in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% projected from 2022 to 2030. Investments are made in areas such as mental health, motivation and inspiration (coaching), physical health, self-awareness, and skillset enhancements. These figures do not even account for the underground economy, where individuals seek solace through drugs, plant medicine, and alternative healing modalities, which often go unreported in official research numbers.

Returning to my initial reflection, while I take ownership of my shortcomings, there are larger forces at play that continue to influence my choices. What if the solution to these tendencies lies not outside of ourselves but within, and simultaneously involves everyone beyond ourselves? As the Persian poet Saadi Shirazi eloquently stated:

"Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.

If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.

If you've no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain!"