Interiority Theater and Cognitive Self-Annihilation
What does it mean if we're experiencing the effects of neuroplasticity in the constant presence of a hyperreal self?
It goes without saying that the our collective quest for authentic self-expression has become paradoxically performative. Writers and creators are often ensnared in a cycle of performing a socially acceptable interiority, leading to a profound disconnect from their true selves. This phenomenon, which can be likened to cognitive self-annihilation, involves the gradual erasure of authentic mental landscapes in favor of a constructed, performative self. To reclaim the richness of genuine self-expression, we must navigate the complex interplay between societal norms, personal identity, and the writer's psyche.
The Absurdity of Performed Interiority
Imagine a world where every person's inner monologue sounds like a perfect blend of TED talk inspiration and self-help vulnerability, articulate and insightful, neatly packaged for mass consumption. This absurd ideal pressures writers to contort their natural thought patterns into acceptable shapes, squeezing complex, non-linear experiences into tidy narrative arcs. The result is a surreal landscape where "authentic" voices sound suspiciously similar, a choir of individuals insisting on their uniqueness while singing in perfect unison.
This performative pressure extends beyond public expressions to private spaces like journaling, where societal norms infiltrate even our most intimate thoughts. The internalization of these norms leads to self-censorship, where individuals unconsciously filter their experiences through the lens of what is deemed "acceptable" by dominant cultural standards.
Cognitive Self-Annihilation: The Cost of Conformity
In our relentless pursuit of a marketable inner life, we risk engaging in cognitive self-annihilation—a process that goes beyond mere self-censorship or social conformity. This self-erasure operates on multiple levels:
Cognitive: We train our minds to think in prescribed patterns, suppressing divergent thoughts and unconventional associations.
Emotional: We curate our emotional responses, amplifying socially rewarded feelings while suppressing or reinterpreting emotions that don't fit the desired narrative.
Experiential: We shape our very experiences to fit the mold of what we believe will make for compelling content, living our lives as if they were always already written.
The irony is stark: in our quest to express an "authentic" self, we systematically destroy the very authenticity we seek to convey. It's akin to clear-cutting a diverse forest to build a perfectly manicured garden—pleasing but devoid of natural complexity.
The Collective Flattening of Human Experience
On a societal level, cognitive self-annihilation contributes to a collective flattening of human experience. As individuals conform to standardized modes of interiority, we risk creating a monoculture of the mind, where diverse ways of thinking and being are gradually eliminated. This homogenization has profound implications:
Loss of Cultural Diversity: Unique cultural perspectives on consciousness and inner life are erased in favor of a globalized, marketable interiority.
Reduced Problem-Solving Capacity: With fewer diverse cognitive approaches available, our collective ability to tackle complex problems is diminished.
Vulnerability to Manipulation: A standardized interiority is more easily influenced and controlled, making populations more susceptible to mass manipulation.
Confronting Ableism in Writing
The notion of "writing well" is deeply entangled with ableist assumptions about language, communication, and cognition. Ableism, or the systemic discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities, permeates our cultural norms around writing, often marginalizing and devaluing the diverse ways in which neurodiverse individuals express themselves. To foster true inclusivity in the literary world, we must confront these ableist biases, embrace neurodiversity, and radically expand our understanding of what constitutes "good" writing.
The Idealized Norm and Its Exclusionary Impact
At the heart of ableism lies the concept of the "idealized norm"—a socially constructed set of expectations about how people should think, learn, communicate, and interact with the world. In the realm of writing, this norm manifests as a rigid set of rules and conventions that prioritize linear structure, emotional transparency, and adherence to standard grammar and syntax.
However, these norms fail to account for the natural diversity of human cognition and expression. Neurodiverse individuals, such as those with dyslexia, autism, or ADHD, often have distinct cognitive styles that shape their writing process and output. They may connect ideas in non-linear ways, focus deeply on specific details, or use language in unconventional but meaningful ways.
When the literary establishment upholds a narrow definition of "good writing" based on neurotypical standards, it excludes and devalues these diverse voices. Neurodiverse writers may struggle to conform to arbitrary rules, face barriers to access and inclusion, and have their work dismissed as "rambling," "clinical," or "unrelatable." This not only limits the range of stories and perspectives represented in literature but also reinforces harmful stereotypes about disability.
Recognizing Ableism in Writing Practices and Spaces
Ableism in writing manifests not only in thestandards we set for "good" writing but also in the practices and spaces surrounding the act of writing itself. Many neurodiverse individuals face barriers to full participation in literary communities due to inaccessible events, prohibitive costs, or social stigma.
For example, writing workshops and classes often emphasize daily writing routines and strict deadlines, which can be exclusionary to those with chronic illnesses or disabilities who may not be able to adhere to such schedules. Additionally, the use of inaccessible language and terminology can alienate disabled writers, as can the pressure to disclose or explain one's disability to be seen as "authentic" or "inspirational.”
Moreover, technology and writing tools often fail to accommodate the needs of disabled writers. For instance, spell checkers and grammar tools are not always optimized for neurodiverse writing styles, and the lack of captioning or sign language in virtual writing events can exclude d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants.
Resisting the Pull: Strategies for Reclaiming Authenticity
To resist the tide of cognitive self-annihilation and ableist norms, we must actively cultivate practices that challenge our assumptions, embrace vulnerability, and expand our creative horizons. Key strategies include:
Cultivating Cognitive Diversity: Actively seeking out and engaging with diverse ways of thinking and expressing interiority.
Practicing Radical Non-Expression: Allowing thoughts and feelings to exist without the compulsion to articulate or share them, preserving a private inner space.
Embracing Cognitive Dissonance: Allowing contradictory thoughts and feelings to coexist without trying to resolve them into a coherent narrative.
Engaging in "Useless" Thinking: Allowing the mind to wander without purpose, engaging in thought patterns that have no obvious utility or marketable output.
Rediscovering Silence: Creating space for internal silence, resisting the constant pressure to fill our inner world with content.
Maybe I Should Just Shut Up
In a world that demands constant performance and curation of our inner lives, simply being—without justification, explanation, or performative output—becomes a revolutionary act. By resisting the urge to annihilate our authentic cognitive landscapes, we preserve the rich, complex, and often contradictory nature of human consciousness.
This preservation of cognitive diversity is crucial for the future of human thought and creativity. In the uncharted territories of our authentic minds may lie the solutions to our greatest challenges and the seeds of our most profound art. The path forward is not one of further self-refinement or performance, but of radical acceptance of the mind in all its messy, incomprehensible glory.
By embracing the full spectrum of human interiority—including the parts that don't fit neatly into social media posts or personal essays—we can hope to resist the tide of cognitive self-annihilation and preserve the boundless potential of the human mind.