Student Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
Fall 12-19-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Program of Study
Communication Studies
Language
English
First Advisor
Dr. Stuart Davis
Abstract
Rational thinking is a skill and mindset that is under siege in modern society, becoming increasingly endangered as we devolve into increasingly hyper-partisan communities rife with echo chambers and confirmation biases. The most basic processes of analyzing issues and facts to develop clearly thought-out and defendable positions have been abandoned in favor of a zealous devotion to toe the party line, no matter the evidence or implications. What we are witnessing firsthand is the fast-approaching culmination of the post-truth era.
One might assume that an issue with such far-reaching implications across our entire society would generate a significant amount of academic literature and theories about how to rectify the situation. However, while there is extensive data available pertaining to the individual elements and trends that are contributing to the overall problem, there are no actionable academic investigations designed to answer the underlying question; how can radical social change be generated in order to create a society that values and willingly employs rational thinking as a cognitive ability?
This thesis is not merely academic in its intentions. Rather, the purpose of this research and these proposals is to initiate a wider conversation that will proliferate, generating new ideas and approaches. Ultimately this will lead to social change campaigns designed to pull society back from the brink of becoming nothing more than automatons. The framework proposed here will act as the impetus for the development of such campaigns, and while there will inevitably be detractors who refuse to consider the arguments, the effort for those who can be reached is no less vital.
Recommended Citation
Long, John S., "Creating a Radical Social Change Campaign to Restore Rational Thinking: A Theoretical Framework" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/bb_etds/222
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Other Communication Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Psychology Commons
