https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/nov/01/why-you-should-treat-charisma-as-a-red-flag
QuoteToday's crop of smooth talkers tap directly into a specific evolutionary vulnerability. Here's how to defend yourself.
QuoteIt's increasingly difficult to ignore how fragmented and bizarre our beliefs have become. We live in our own echo chambers, defined by the channels, feeds and influencers we follow. As a result we can arrive at very polarised conclusions about vaccines, the climate, gender, geopolitics, the shape of the Earth and everything else. Disagreements on topics like these frequently damage relationships, alienate friends and estrange loved ones.
QuoteThe dangers of charisma are nothing new, of course. History is filled with examples of people using charm to advance their interests. Dictators, cult leaders and con artists are all proof that an otherwise reasonable person can succumb to a well-executed charm offensive.
QuoteWhy are we so easily taken in by charisma? Like many aspects of our psychology, we can understand it more clearly through the lens of our evolutionary past.
QuoteThe best form of defence against the excesses of charisma is critical thinking. We should regard it as being like a collective immune system, and it should be central to our culture and the way we educate our young people. They should be taught how to evaluate sources, interpret information and recognise bias. Similarly, separating confidence from substance ought to be considered a basic life skill. Looking at counter-arguments when we are emotionally pulled to someone's perspective should be routine, and changing our mind when it is emotionally difficult should be celebrated.
It would also be helpful for the average person to learn the fundamentals of confident communication. Not only can this help you express yourself when you have something of real value to offer, but it also teaches you to see through a person who would happily use such tactics to deceive or seduce.
All told, charisma should actually be a red flag that encourages us to be more sceptical of an individual, not less. When someone can convincingly hold court on important topics like finance, healthcare or the Middle East, we should ask questions. What experience do they have? Do they have a history of dishonesty? What do they stand to gain from this view? What need in me might this person be speaking to? For my part, the next time I discuss something important, I will go easy on the pitch, pace and volume, and try to let the facts speak for themselves.
I think this is a very important article, explaining why so many people fall prey to cults and freuds.
This is an excellent article, thank you.
QuoteWe spend a lot of time worrying about how the minds of teenagers are warped by the online world. We're keenly aware how prone they are to manipulation by seemingly impressive figures. What we fail to realize is, we're all teenagers when it comes to the internet.
I wonder how well people like Kaia Ra would have done pre-Internet. She would have been able to lead a cult but not to this extent.