It’s no secret that this has been a particularly fraught election cycle that has sometimes created deeper divisions rather than stronger connections. Witch-hunt style politics and scapegoating have become commonplace — and common sense less so amid heightened tension and a growing sense of xenophobia.

“Whether it is tribalism, racism, xenophobia, or anti-Muslim backlash we’re talking about, we spend so much time and energy fighting ways to divide ourselves from others” –Loretta Lynch

The hocus pocus of human nature means it’s easy for us to get carried away with groupthink. There is no better time than the present moment to apply critical thinking and exercise our common sense. This is easier said than done, but recognizing and understanding the risks associated with this brand of politics serves as a potent reminder of the importance of taking a step back and applying critical thinking to combat the groupthink narrative:

• Scapegoating perpetuates negative stereotypes: Witch-hunting and scapegoating have happened throughout history. However, perhaps the reason that it endures to this day is that it perpetuates existing stereotypes. Buying into those practices only serves to extend the injustice against marginalized peoples and communities.
• It erodes personal freedoms: Whether it’s racism, xenophobia, or another label entirely, witch-hunts divide societies, disconnect us from the pursuit of the highest and best yield for the greater good, and limit opportunities for whole segments of society.
• It discourages critical thinking and intellectual sovereignty: Do you pride yourself on knowing your own mind? Of making your own decisions? Of forming your own opinions? Witch-hunt politics and policies of scapegoating minimize those vital freedoms by discouraging critical thinking at a time when reasoning about complex issues is more important than ever.
• If we step back, we can all identify instances when scapegoating and political witch-hunts have played out in front of our own eyes. We can’t change the past. But we can protect ourselves and our communities from that propaganda in the coming days and months:
• Practice empathy: Recognizing that we are different, hold different views, and subscribe to different politics isn’t a weakness. Open dialogue and judgment-free discourse can break down barriers and promote inclusivity.
• Look for shared values: Seeking shared values, rather than looking for differences, can create unity and cohesion within our communities. It challenges the ‘us vs. them’ mindset by identifying things we have in common rather than differences that push us apart.
• Practice critical thinking: Scapegoating and witch-hunts can only thrive when they aren’t challenged. Develop critical thinking skills to challenge misinformation and share other, more inclusive perspectives.
• In a world where Hocus Pocus thinking fuels scapegoating, groupthink fosters xenophobia, and human nature often leans toward fear; it is only through reasoned critical thinking and the steady application of common sense we can rise above division and embrace our shared humanity.

Like what you’re reading? Want more consciously prepared brain food?

Listen to this Harvesting Happiness episode: Sorcery of Scapegoating: The Hocus Pocus of Human Nature and Xenophobia with Phillips Stevens Jr PhD or wherever you get your podcasts.

GUEST BIO: Phillips Stevens Jr., PhD, is a cultural anthropologist whose research traces and analyzes the roots of religion and spiritualism in human culture. Phil earned his BA from Yale, served in the Peace Corps in Nigeria, and received his PhD from Northwestern. After a 48-year career in the Anthropology Department at the University of Buffalo, he retired in 2019.

Dr. Stevens is a respected author and lecturer known for his work on magic and witchcraft. His latest book is titled Rethinking the Anthropology of Magic and Witchcraft: Inherently Human.

This episode is part of The Good Citizen’s Election Season Survival Guide to Restoring Common Sense and Sanity in a Crazy World — produced in collaboration with renowned, fair-minded subject matter experts who provide strategies that enhance critical thinking, increase civic engagement, and foster healthy pleasure to boost personal well-being and relationship satisfaction.

Take an even deeper dive with More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness on Substack and Medium.

• Ecopsychology: Reconnecting with Nature for Health and Well-Being
• A Transformative Journey in the Quest for Happiness Via a Spiritual Life
• Fear: The Powerful Mind Bug That Breeds Gossip, Disinformation, and Witch Hunts Against Common Sense
• What War Can Teach Us About Life
• Cognitive Psychology: Thinking About How We Think