Cynthia Miller-Idriss Explains the Connection Between Extremism and Mainstream Culture

In an era where media manipulation and authoritarian communication tactics converge, societies are experiencing growing challenges with empathy, particularly among young men, according to sociologist Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, founding director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL).

In a recent interview, Miller-Idriss outlined a concerning pattern she’s observed in authoritarian communication strategies. “There is this sort of playbook of authoritarian communication tactics that I see happening in four stages,” she explained. The process begins with deliberate confusion—undermining legitimate sources of knowledge like journalism, universities, and expertise.

“Attacks on the media, attacks on universities, attacks on expertise, undermining the presentation of alternative facts… for years,” Miller-Idriss noted. This confusion blurs the lines between fact and fiction, making it easier for people to lose sight of moral boundaries.

The second stage involves fear-mongering, often using false crime statistics or exaggerated threats. This is followed by the critical third stage: blaming or scapegoating. “We see that in the case of Chicago, and everything going on with ICE is really the immigrants are the scapegoat, but we’ve seen it with feminists being the scapegoat, or Jews being the scapegoat, racial and ethnic minorities being the scapegoat,” she said.

The final stage delivers supposed solutions—often promising a return to traditional values and clearer hierarchies. This coordinated approach overwhelms people with information, creating what Miller-Idriss calls “compassion fatigue” that diminishes empathy and discourages action.

Countering this manipulation presents significant challenges. Miller-Idriss emphasizes that direct counter-arguments often fail because those already committed to a particular worldview tend to double down when challenged. “You cannot do it with counter-arguments, because they will double down a lot of the time, and just dig in their heels more,” she explained.

Instead, her research suggests teaching media literacy and critical thinking skills is more effective. “The one thing that we’ve found in our research that does work really well is teach people how to think more skeptically about the media they consume,” said Miller-Idriss. By pointing out specific manipulative tactics rather than arguing against content, people become better equipped to identify propaganda.

The sociologist also addressed the troubling glorification of violence, particularly as it impacts young men’s concept of masculinity. “We have to problematize and question and create open spaces for boys and young men to have these conversations about the pressures they feel,” she urged, noting alarming statistics: 25% of men under 30 report having no friends, and 50% of American men find their online lives more rewarding than offline interactions.

This isolation has devastating consequences, with men accounting for three-quarters of “deaths of despair” through suicide, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related fatalities. Miller-Idriss advocates for challenging the narrative that “boys and men have to be ready to be violent at any time in order to be a man,” especially as traditional provider roles become harder to fulfill in today’s economy.

The media also bears responsibility in how it covers violence, she noted. Simple practices, like not naming mass shooters while focusing on communities and victims, can help avoid glorifying perpetrators.

Miller-Idriss concluded by emphasizing the importance of community engagement as an antidote to isolation and extremism. Citing Mister Rogers’ famous advice to “look for the helpers” during crises, she encourages giving people a sense of agency through community involvement and mutual aid.

“These, you know, mutual aid, or providing help when SNAP benefits run out to a local family, or engaging at a local level in some way, to show support… that does build community cohesion, which also builds trust across dividing lines,” Miller-Idriss said. Such community-building serves as a foundation for democracy and counters the isolation that makes individuals vulnerable to extremist messaging.