America’s mass spiral of self-censorship | The Dilemma Ep. 1

Americans no longer feel safe to speak their minds. The levels of self-silencing in the country rival that of Mccarthyism in the late 1940s – or higher, says research scientist Todd Rose. Our social trust is non-existent, so much so that many are opting out of sharing their opinions altogether, making way for those at the extremes to be the dominant voices.

But just because the most vocal want something, doesn’t mean that the rest of the country shares this ideology. In fact, our brains mistake this extremist noise for consensus, reinforcing the lie that this is what we must believe.

Here’s why this social silence must be changed. Why it's healthy to invite in other points of view – even if they differ from yours.

This is The Dilemma with Irshad Manji, a series from Big Think created in partnership with Moral Courage College.

Watch more from The Dilemma ►

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About Irshad Manji:

Irshad Manji is an award-winning educator, author, and advocate for moral courage and diversity of thought. As the founder of Moral Courage College, she equips people to engage in honest conversations across lines of difference.