NORTH STAR INTERVIEW: Laura Dodsworth, author 'Free Your Mind')
Laura has been described as a ‘latter-day punchy Cassandra’ and ‘Slayer of Taboos’. She pulls no punches when it comes to her work - exploring people and their lives around the world. Her new book ‘Free Your Mind: The new world of manipulation and how to resist it’ is a Sunday Times bestseller and was highly praised by large outlets from Forbes to the Telegraph. Laura has also written critically on the UK government, and women’s bodies and how society treats them.
Laura is speaking at TBD Conference in February because I enjoyed ‘Free Your Mind’ [Amazon] and her Substack so much. Laura is Find out more about Laura and book her to speak at your next event here.
North Star interviews are always free [archive], but with a paid subscription to C_NCENTRATE you get around 50 issues of analysis, links, cutting-edge thinking, and inspiration a year. Readers say it’s “the first good decision” they make each week. Subscribe now for £20 a year. Cancel anytime.
With the rise of AI, deepfake technology and augmented reality, it could be argued that the nature of, and our perception of, reality is changing. How is manipulation changing, and how do you predict or see it changing over the next 10 years?
Manipulation is as old as time. Persuasion and manipulation are integral to language and human communication. But I do think we are poised on the brink of a new era. I like to be hopeful and act as a positive agent for agent but, the truth is, I believe we are on a precipice.
We live in a time of confluence of large powerful states and supranational bodies, the embedding of behavioural science in government (which I regard as deeply pernicious, unlike the use of nudging to promote Brand A above Brand B), the development of increasingly sophisticated psychological techniques and the development of AI.
I thought it was fascinating that there was a media storm recently about the dangers of AI, likening it to a ‘mass extinction event’ and ‘nukes’. I’d wager this was foregrounded by the realisation of ABC1 professionals in tech and media that their jobs and incomes are at risk, but also to soften people up for forthcoming regulation, and because the high-octane drama helps to fuel investment and careers. Not once did I see mentioned the long-standing ethical concerns about privacy, manipulation and consent. AI has the potential to be sedimented with nudging, to target us in highly personalised ways while being implemented at mass global scale. It is a brainwasher’s dream.
Psychology used to be about diagnosing and fixing people. Now it seems to be used to predict and manipulate behaviour. The government and its agencies employ an awful lot of psychologists.
Finally, the manipulators have grown very bold. Edward Bernays, the influential psychoanalyst and author of Propaganda wrote about the invisible wires of government. The fourth-century BCE Chinese General Sun Tzu is oft-quoted today. What is different about modern manipulation and propaganda is how out in the open it is. From the behavioural scientists who have pulled back the curtain and published their reports about how to change the behaviour of citizens without their consent or democratic mandate, to the Twitter and Facebook files revealing behind-the-scenes coordination to keep the truth from people. There are lots of examples in chapter four of the book.
There are a scary amount of examples! Ok, a fun one. Picture yourself in a room with a mix of people—a parent, a single 40-year-old, and a 70-year-old. They turn to you for advice on handling manipulation, but they're all at different stages in life. What specific guidance would you give to each of them, and what makes these recommendations unique based on their individual circumstances?
I don’t see the advice as age-related, except my advice to a parent would be to seriously limit screen usage for children and delay smartphone ownership as long as possible. This is based on research for my book and also life experience as a parent! It is hard enough for adults to be mindful about screen and phone usage. We are handing children the crack cocaine of the entertainment and Big Tech worlds.
How can individuals distinguish between genuine autonomy and coercive tactics aimed at deceiving them into thinking they have a choice?
It isn’t always easy to tell, and you can’t avoid all manipulation. No man is an island. In terms of choices, watch out for the forced choice, where you must choose A or B and there is no third choice or opportunity to express your own option. I fell for this recently, and I’ve just been through a phase of hyper-vigilance since writing Free Your Mind, so it’s easily done. Don’t make decisions in a ‘hot’ state (pressure, hungry, angry, lonely, tired), wait till you are in a cold state.
You talk about a growing concern amongst scholars around the world which is important considering sliding populations - porn addiction. Could you elaborate on the techniques that perpetuate such addictions and how individuals can break free from their grip?
I’m trying to resist a joke about the ‘death grip’ and failing…
It has been known for decades that paraphilias can be conditioned. Sex is, of course, an exceptionally brilliant thing to do, but it is also a powerful tool of conditioning thanks to the brief weakening of consciousness that accompanies the orgasm – ‘le petit mort’ – combined with serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. This is why sex is used in advertising, wartime propaganda and even the insidious CIA MK Ultra programme, ‘Operation Midnight Climax’.
Thanks to the internet you can be brainwashed in the bedroom by the vast - and frankly bewildering array – of porn. The effects of porn are hotly contested (is there a field in which it is harder to separate science and socially constructed ideology?) as is what constitutes addiction. People do claim to be addicted, causing problems with relationships, sexual satisfaction, and sexual dysfunction. It’s obvious to seasoned pornography users that what constitutes sexually arousing material has changed considerably over time. I researched one of the main sites (for the book!) and was taken aback at what passes for mainstream these days. Boundaries are being pushed as people seek to get the next dopamine hit.
As with other addictions , some people recommend abstinence. The ‘No Fap’ movement is quite well known. We interviewed people who have benefitted from simply giving up.
How can someone discern the point at which their consumption of digital content transitions from healthy engagement to harmful dependence? Any advice for talking with loved ones/friends about if people are concerned?
I’m not sure how helpful intervention ever is, but gentle questioning is often best. I think we often know when a dependence is harmful, but the challenge is admitting it! When a dependence causes serious enough problems, people tend to become ready to admit it. I am on my smartphone too much, and am a Twitter addict. It was making me unhappy. Addressing the dependence is easier when you view it that way. I booked myself into a convent for 24 hours to take a break from the phone. Originally it was going to be 48 hours but the thought of being without my phone that long made me itch. That’s a bad sign.
You talk about limiting TV exposure too. We have screens for our screens. What should people do to make informed choices about what they watch or should companies like Netflix get legislation placed upon them to help protect mental health more?
First of all, get some level of immunity. If you understand how the television can influence you, from scriptwriters deliberately engaging in social engineering, to advertising techniques, to the power of imagery over words, you will be at least partially inoculated. Call me biased, but I recommend reading Free Your Mind! We have a chapter specifically on TV, and another which details different nudging and propaganda tactics. Once you see these tricks, you can’t unsee them. The ‘magic show’ is spoilt forever!
Death is discussed in the book. How can an awareness of mortality empower individuals to resist manipulative tactics and make more conscious choices?
This is one of the most difficult aspects of manipulation for people to get to grips with. It’s a sore point. We live in a world of 24-hour funeral parlours because we are culturally deeply uncomfortable with death.
Seneca put it best: “He who has learned to die has unlearned slavery; he is above any external power, or, at any rate, he is beyond it. What terrors have prisons and bonds and bars for him? His way out is clear. There is only one chain which binds us to life, and that is the love of life.”
Ultimately, the book seeks to empower readers to recognize and resist manipulation. What’s the most untalked-about element in a mental toolkit that allows individuals to critically evaluate their surroundings and decisions?
Self-analysis. One chapter of the book is entitled ‘Stop haunting yourself’. Half of the problem with manipulation is the message. The other half of the problem is you. It is the work of a lifetime but you need to understand your emotional landmines and triggers, whether it is the ubiquitous fear of death, or a fear of failure, worry for your children, body image anxiety or something more unique to your emotional DNA. Figure yourself out, make peace with yourself, understand your value system and you are far less manipulable.
Apart from subscribing to the newsletter and buying the book, what’s the best recommendation for C_NCENTRATE readers to have a more successful 2024?
Self-individuate and self-determine. Be sovereign of your mind. It is the only domain you can truly claim.
Finally, what’s the one question I should have asked you? Now answer it.
Great question! Is Free Your Mind an act of manipulation? Yes, in a sense. We’re always trying to persuade each other. It’s natural to humans. Patrick and I would be very odd authors indeed if didn’t want people to read our book and be influenced by it. We just think that people should be aware of the different types of persuasion, and be able to deflect and resist if they want. I’m genuinely passionate about freedom and see freethinking as the most essential aim for everyone.
For more information and to engage Laura, head over to lauradodsworth.com