#187: Understanding Mass Formation with Mattias Desmet

Statistical Errors

Mattias Desmet highlights significant statistical errors in pandemic modeling, particularly those from Imperial College in London. These models predicted dire outcomes, such as 80,000 deaths in Sweden by May 2020 without lockdowns, yet only 6,000 occurred, revealing a dramatic overestimation 1. Despite these inaccuracies, the narrative and measures continued unchanged, raising questions about the role of science versus ideology. Desmet notes, "When science becomes ideology, it turns from an open-minded practice into a dogmatic conviction and belief" 2.

   

Societal Impact

The pandemic response had profound societal impacts, often overshadowing broader consequences like increased hunger in developing countries due to lockdowns 3. Mark Groves and Desmet discuss how the focus on a single risk led to a lack of nuanced conversation and an inability to balance collateral damage with virus mitigation. Desmet observes, "A new kind of solidarity emerges and a new social bond...intolerant to dissident voices," illustrating the psychological mass formation process 4.

   

Challenging Mass Formation

Challenging mass formation involves understanding its psychological dynamics and the difficulty of breaking its momentum. Desmet explains that society divides into three groups: those deeply hypnotized by mass formation, those who go along with it, and those who resist 5. He emphasizes the importance of speaking out to lessen the depth of this societal hypnosis, stating, "If people continue to speak out, the hypnosis will become less deep" 6.