The last three years have seen a huge number of people subtly tricked into thinking that they were at significant risk, that non-medical interventions such as lockdowns and masks were legitimate and justified, and that novel medical interventions were “safe and effective”. As a psychologist, Lindsay watched these phenomena
unfold with disbelief and alarm. Lindsay will describe how such manipulation is possible without people realising that they are being manipulated, how to recognise when you are being manipulated, and how you might be able to help other people be less susceptible to such manipulation. Whilst generally resisting the mainstream manipulation, Lindsay experienced the overt pressure exerted by the health regulator, merely for publicly encouraging people to engage in critical thinking.
Drawing on 40 years of studying and practicing psychology, Lindsay will discuss:
- that we are all capable of being manipulated,
- why manipulators sometimes act in bad faith,
- the complexities of
communication and language, and
- how we might be able to moderate our own language to resist malevolent manipulation by engaging in our own form of benevolent manipulation.
Lindsay Spencer-Matthews maintains a small psychology practice in North
Ipswich.
He has delivered a TEDxUQ talk titled “How To Be The Luckiest Person In The
World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfdnlE4Xzw0 he has written a book called “Why Clever People Do Dumb Things” (currently only available in PDF), and he has been a guest on a number of podcasts, the most recent is about to be released on Parents With Questions. A happily married “empty nester”, Lindsay is passionately committed to helping people learn how to better manage their lives and environments so as to lead a richer, fuller, and more meaningful
life.
