"The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim."
— Gustave Le Bon, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind (1895)
Many folks would rather be comforted by a lie than hurt by the truth.
Because of this human weakness, two things happen:
To become a leader: You just have to tell people what they want to hear (give them the illusion).
To become an enemy: You just have to tell people they are wrong (give them the truth).
In short: The person who sells the fantasy wins; the person who brings the reality check loses.
In short: The person who sells the fantasy wins; the person who brings the reality
The Antidote to Mass Psychosis
"The grip of mass psychosis is broken the moment an individual chooses reason over comfort. By cultivating a mind that values understanding above belonging, and maintaining the humility to admit when one is wrong, the illusion loses its power. A person capable of self-correction cannot be enslaved by a fantasy."
Why this is the solution
Le Bon argued that crowds are ruled by emotion and certainty. Your solution counters this by introducing the two things a mob cannot survive:
Reason: Critical thinking slows down the emotional contagion that spreads psychosis.
Flexibility (Admitting fault): Illusions require absolute blind faith to work. If you are willing to say, "I might be wrong," you are no longer rigid enough to be manipulated. You become "fluid" and can pull away from the trap before it closes.
