A logical fallacy is a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument weak or invalid. It means the argument doesn’t correctly support its conclusion. However, it doesn’t always mean the person is completely wrong—they might have some correct points but are using poor logic.
One kind of logical fallacy is a false dichotomy. Saying “Either you are anti-fascist or fascist, with no middle ground” is an example. This is an opinion, not a fact. It means if you don’t actively oppose fascism, you are seen as supporting it. But real life is more complicated—people’s beliefs fall on a wide range, not just two sides. Fascism is a far-right system where a dictator controls everything, promotes extreme nationalism, and often uses violence. Many people don’t fit exactly as “fascist” or “anti-fascist,” and political views can be mixed or in between. This kind of either-or thinking is called a false dichotomy, and it is sometimes used as a political technique to inspire change.
Change is often needed, but we need to have critical thinking skills to survive when AI becomes super-intelligent in a few years(?), because who knows what it will throw at us.
So, do you see why this particular false dichotomy is false?
Example: A person might support strict law and order because they want safety and stability. However, they can also strongly oppose racism and authoritarianism because they value equality and freedom. This shows that someone can hold views from both sides without being fully “fascist” or fully “anti-fascist.”
Example: A person might believe in strong community and national pride to unite people, but also support freedom of speech and democratic rights. This mix also shows you can want social cohesion without authoritarian control, holding a balanced view that isn’t all the way on either extreme.
You are not alone, and in fact, you are in the majority, if you have a mix of political spectrum views. Research shows that a majority of people hold mixed political views rather than consistently aligning with one side[1].
That’s the fact behind what bores me about “the Left” vs “the Right” fights, “…according to Gallup, more Americans identify as independents (40%) than as Democrats (29%) or Republicans (30%)” so the majority is neither. See the link: Independents Favor Both Major Parties on Key Issues
Humorous example: In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the villagers claim that if someone is a witch, they must weigh the same as a duck, and since wood floats and ducks float, witches must be made of wood. This absurd logic forces only two options (witch or not) based on faulty reasoning. It ignores other possibilities and jumps to a silly conclusion, presenting a false choice with no middle ground. You might think we would all understand this, but history and psychology shows us that a false dichotomy works especially well right after a trauma. (GWB’s 9/11, “with us or with the terrorists” speech)
Research shows that trauma and high stress can reduce activity and impair function in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for logical thinking, decision-making, and emotion regulation. At the same time, trauma often increases activity in the amygdala, the brain’s fear and survival center, which triggers emotional and instinctive responses like fight, flight, or freeze. This shift means that during or after trauma, people may have reduced capacity for clear reasoning and self-control, and their behavior may be driven more by emotional survival instincts. This can sometimes lead to following leaders impulsively or making decisions based more on fear than logic.
Research shows that during stress and trauma, the brain releases chemicals like catecholamines that quickly impair the prefrontal cortex—our center for logical thinking and decision-making. At the same time, trauma strengthens the amygdala, which drives emotional and survival responses like fear and habit. Over time, chronic stress can physically shrink connections in the prefrontal cortex and boost those in the amygdala, making emotional reactions stronger and rational thought weaker.
So what? This means that trauma can make people more prone to emotional, impulsive decisions rather than careful reasoning. Leaders or systems can exploit this by using fear and trauma to control populations, as traumatic events weaken people’s ability to think critically and increase their tendency to follow authority without question. Being aware of this, depending on your level of freedom and autonomy, you can take needed breaks to get away from social media and national political news when it gets too heavy.
[1] https://www.uniteamerica.org/articles/research-brief-growing-cohort-of-independent-voters-becomes-critical-segment-of-electorate