Post-Truth: A Guide for the Perplexed
By Kathleen Higgins
The Oxford Dictionaries named "post-truth" as their 2016 Word of the Year. Science's quest for knowledge presupposes the importance of truth, both as an end in itself and as a means of resolving problems. Post-truth refers to blatant lies being routine across society, meaning political figures can lie without public condemnation.
Public tolerance of inaccurate allegations, non sequiturs, and outright denials of facts is shockingly high. In a post-truth political era, repetition of talking points replaces substantive debate, and serious interest in policy options is dismissed as the domain of wonks.
18th-century philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that we can never know what things are like "in themselves" independent of our perception. Meanwhile, Friedrich Nietzsche objected to moral certainties, denying the existence of unconditional moral facts while emphasizing the importance of intellectual honesty and physics.
The Conspiracy Mindset
By Melinda Wenner Moyer
Stephan Lewandowsky, a cognitive scientist, conducted research into climate change denialism. He discovered that individuals who rejected climate science frequently subscribed to outlandish plots, including the belief that the Apollo moon landing was a government-engineered hoax.
When Lewandowsky published his findings in 2013, critics attacked his research ethics and launched new conspiratorial claims against him. Studies show that feelings of anxiety and powerlessness significantly heighten a person's vulnerability to conspiratorial thinking as a defense mechanism to regain perceived control.
The Zoom Boom in Psychotherapy
By Claudia Wallis
During the pandemic, clinical psychologists shifted rapidly to remote therapy sessions. While teletherapy dramatically increased access for patients in rural or underserved regions, clinicians noted challenges in reading body language and micro-expressions through video interfaces.
Despite technical barriers, regulatory changes and insurance adjustments allowed telehealth platforms to experience unprecedented growth, permanently transforming modern psychological practice and hybrid care models.
Fieldwork Among American Militias
By Field Researchers
Sociological fieldwork examining armed militia groups reveals complex social dynamics. Group cohesion often relies on shared narratives of anti-institutional skepticism, local community bonding, and defensive identity construction.
Researchers emphasize that understanding the socio-economic drivers and psychological motivations behind militia participation is essential for addressing political polarization and preventing radicalization in rural communities.