Ian MacRae

Freelance Contributor at Freelance

Psychologist and writer. New book, Web of Value: https://t.co/0VY0Q36fSY https://t.co/lkNpKJGXUX

Articles

Beware the Obsequious AI Assistant

3 weeks ago | psychologytoday.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

New language models now offer unsolicited praise, often without knowing anything about the user. Users are shifting from task-based use to emotional and advisory reliance on AI assistants. Flattery activates reward circuits in the brain, even when users know it’s superficial. In the latest releases of OpenAI’s language models, people have started to notice something: the AI has gotten weirdly flattering.
"Cortisolmaxxing": Are You Overstimulating Your Mind?

1 month ago | psychologytoday.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

Cortisol spikes from constant alerts can mimic danger, even when no real threat is present. Chronic overstimulation hijacks focus and impairs memory, sleep, and decision-making. Multitasking and constant input train your brain to expect threats everywhere. There’s a trend online to tack -maxxing onto just about anything. Looksmaxxing is the obvious one.
"Cortisolmaxxing": Are You Overstimulating Your Mind?

1 month ago | qoshe.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

There’s a trend online to tack -maxxing onto just about anything. Looksmaxxing is the obvious one. It means complete focus on improving one’s physical appearance using skin care, gym routines, lighting tricks, posture hacks, filters, or even surgery. But there’s a newer, less intentional trend that might be even more widespread: cortisolmaxxing. This is when someone unwittingly turns every dial in their environment to “alert mode” and marinates in nonstop stress all day.
Why People Believe Things They Know Aren’t True

1 month ago | psychologytoday.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

Why do so many people ignore facts they know aren’t true? Why do small lies get a pass if they serve a bigger idea that feels right? Something fundamental is shifting in how meaning is made and how language is shaping culture. This can be explained both as a shift toward post-literate culture and Iain McGilchrist’s conceptualizations of right- and left-brain hemisphere dominance that can shape people and whole cultures. There may be a deeper shift underway in how truth itself is recognized.
Why People Believe Things They Know Aren’t True

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

1 day ago"Thank you and now goodbye" Europe's break-up letter to AmericaHere's the opening paragraph from Europe's break-up letter with its insufferably redpilled friend, USA: "Thank you for Andy Warhol. Thank you for the …16 hours ago‘He’s Going to Tank Our Economy’: Trump’s Tariffs Draw Strong Reactions in CongressThose fears were fueling a stronger GOP pushback against Trump than seen in his second term thus far, though those speaking out still represented a minority in their party.
Why People Believe Things They Know Aren’t True - Ian Macrae

1 month ago | qoshe.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

Why do so many people ignore facts they know aren’t true? Why do small lies get a pass if they serve a bigger idea that feels right? Something fundamental is shifting in how meaning is made and how language is shaping culture. This can be explained both as a shift toward post-literate culture and Iain McGilchrist’s conceptualizations of right- and left-brain hemisphere dominance that can shape people and whole cultures. There may be a deeper shift underway in how truth itself is recognized.
How Communication Changes in a Post-Literate Society

1 month ago | psychologytoday.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

Communication is shifting from text and logic to images, emotion, and intuitive recognition. This "post-literate" culture favors immediacy, resonance, and shared emotional context over analysis. Cultural cohesion now forms through digital symbols, not geographic proximity. Rational argument often fails in spaces dominated by intuitive right-brain communication. We’re living in a world where traditional literacy, the deep reading of text, is becoming increasingly irrelevant for most people.
How Communication Changes in a Post-Literate Society - Ian Macrae

1 month ago | qoshe.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

We’re living in a world where traditional literacy, the deep reading of text, is becoming increasingly irrelevant for most people. It’s not that people can’t read; it’s that they don’t. From legal contracts to footnotes and full articles beneath headlines, long-form text is routinely ignored or skimmed. This shift toward what we might call a post-literate society is a profound change in how people communicate and make sense of the world.
When the Real Issue Is Not Enough Sex, Not Too Much Porn - Ian Macrae

Feb 9, 2025 | qoshe.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

There’s no shortage of conversation about the dangers of pornography and how it distorts perceptions, sets unrealistic expectations, and, for some, creates unhealthy compulsions. That’s a real concern, particularly for young people who are still developing their understanding of sex and relationships. But this post is about adults. And for adults, the real issue often isn’t just what people are watching, it’s that too many people are engaging with sex as a spectator rather than a participant.
Why Do We Always Take the Bait? And How to Stop

Feb 8, 2025 | psychologytoday.com | Ian MacRae |Ian Macrae

We’ve all been there. A family gathering, a group chat, a comment section—and then it happens. Someone drops a deliberately provocative statement, and before we know it, we’re in a heated argument. Maybe it's the proverbial uncle at Thanksgiving, pushing everyone's buttons. Maybe it's an internet troll, a media pundit, or a pop culture figure expertly fishing for outrage. We know engaging is exactly what they want. Despite recognizing the game, many of us enthusiastically play along.