Has a culture of insecurity distorted our reality? ll By Rich Brodt

At various times throughout my forays into writing I have delved into the current political climate of the United States. And yet again, we find ourselves at one of the most divisive times in our history. I’ve touched on issues with confirmation bias and the inability to accept opposing viewpoints based on the information targeted towards each of us individually on any given day. As the headlines for a potential impeachment of our president have continued to roll in, I began to wonder where this divide started. While the Democratic and Republican parties have always been at odds and taken different stances on social and financial issues, it seems that the ability to find a middle ground has all but disappeared. 

I feel that congress provides a pretty clear depiction of just how divided we are as a nation.

If we look back at history, it is easy to see how bipartisan voting had a positive impact on society. In fact, with support from a large portion of Republicans, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would not have passed due to many southern Democrats opposing the bill. So how, then, have we gotten to a point in our history where new legislation impacting the American people receives almost no bipartisan support, with almost every individual in congress voting solely along party lines? 

The answer to that question is quite complex, however, I feel that it is at least partially related to a corporate American culture that overwhelmingly promotes and commoditizes the insecurities of its people. Advertising, in its earliest form, really only started in the 1950s as a way to get knowledge about new products to a growing consumer base after WW2. Since then, marketing has shifted and found ways to insert advertisements in almost every area of our lives. 

We cannot read the news without having items marketed to us. Pop-up advertisements on the side of our screens regularly distract us from what we are reading and lure us into an online shop, specifically targeted at us based on our other activity on the internet. There is an entire marketing industry built on selling you products when you believe you are simply reading an article about a particular topic. Health and wellness magazines and blogs regularly take money from corporations to list their products as the best, and they conveniently add hyperlinks to said products so that we can easily take the next step and purchase them. 

These advertisements target our insecurities, and the message is clear: you could be thinner, happier, smarter, more lovable if you purchase this product. 

And not all of us are receiving the same messages, each is targeted to our own insecurities, and creates a feedback loop where we’re regularly having these messages hammered home. 

Couple these messages with the explosion of social media platforms and it isn’t difficult to see how we have become so unsure of ourselves and come to believe that we will not be enough without attaining x, y or z. In fact, social media is probably one of the most insidious peddlers of goods we don’t need. On Instagram, for example, attaining “influencer” status simply means that as an individual you have amassed enough followers that companies are now willing to pay you to covertly advertise their products to your fans and admirers – again, creating a situation where individuals are getting the message that they can attain a higher social status by using a particular product. 

So how does all of this distort our political reality and beliefs?

It does this because regular feelings of insecurity and poor self-image change the way that we view the world. When people begin to feel insignificant or inferior, they begin to lose touch we reality, feeling as though they are victimized by the fact that others have what they do not. They stop trusting others, and become paranoid, causing them to reject viewpoints that do not align with their own worldview. They withdraw from society and reject the positive traits that others might offer because they conflict with their own feelings about themselves. They attack opposing political views because they believe that the other side must be out to get them in some way – a form of projection caused by their paranoia. They create alternate scenarios and narratives that back their own viewpoints, leading to an even louder echo chamber. 

I want it to be clear that I am not saying one side of the political spectrum is doing this more than others. 

I think it happens for most people to varying degrees, but the more either side views themselves as being backed into a corner, the stronger their drive to eviscerate opposing viewpoints will be.  

I doubt there is a solution to these trends in marketing, they are likely to become even more insidious as times goes on. However, I do feel that each of us, as individuals, can take steps to understand what is happening and move away from it by spending less time on social media, and by being open and honest about our insecurities and beliefs – creating dialogues in the real world that are not dependent on technology. Of course, we cannot wholly reject technology as there are countless benefits from our ability to connect using that technology. However, we must be mindful of what we consume and what we sacrifice as a result of these benefits.


About Rich Brodt

I provide therapy and counseling for individuals. My style integrates various techniques, but I tailor my approach to each client’s unique needs. I am committed to helping people that experience anxiety resulting from trauma, work-related stress, legal issues or major life transitions. Together, we will work to calm your mind and create lasting change.