Hyperstition
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Hyperstition
Hyperstition is a compound term derived from hyper (beyond, excessive) and superstition, used to describe a narrative or symbolic construct that becomes real through repetition, belief, and feedback amplification. A hyperstition may begin as fiction, speculation, prophecy, or archetype, but—when repeated and emotionally charged—can crystallize into social reality.
Hyperstition operates as a key narrative vector within a Creative Framework, particularly through Creation Templates, where it functions to either reinforce dominant ideological constructs or to imagine and activate alternative futures. The term was introduced by the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit (CCRU) in the 1990s, notably by theorists Nick Land and Sadie Plant.
Concept Map
Key Terms
Syncretic Terms
- Mythos-in-action
- Self-fulfilling prophecy
- Narrative determinism
- Speculative fiction (when internalized)
- Collective thoughtform
Related LP Terms
Hyperstition > Ideological Institution, Sacrilization, Symbol Factory, System Agent, System Architect
Non-LP Related Terms
- TINA (There Is No Alternative)
- Memeplex (Dawkins)
- Accelerationism
- Narratology
- Mass Suggestion
Key Characteristics
Fiction That Becomes Reality
- Hyperstitions are speculative or symbolic narratives that gain real-world traction through cultural repetition, belief, and enactment.
- Example: The archetype of "good vs. evil" has shaped legal codes, warfare, and theology. The belief in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) originated in science fiction but now drives research, policy, and global investment.
Feedback Loops and Narrative Engineering
- Hyperstition operates via positive feedback loops: belief drives behavior → behavior reinforces belief → institutions crystallize belief into norm or policy.
- Example: Bitcoin began as a libertarian hyperstition about decentralized money, which triggered adoption, speculation, and now central bank policy responses.
Acceleration and Emergence
- Hyperstitions can accelerate cultural and technological change by implanting potent imaginaries within the social psyche.
- Example: The myth of the "techno-singularity" has reoriented entire industries, venture capital, and public discourse toward exponential futurism.
Control or Liberation
- Hyperstitions are tools of either elite control or systemic liberation:
- Negative hyperstition: "Humans are naturally violent," "Hierarchy is inevitable." - Positive hyperstition: "Another world is possible," "Human beings can heal and connect."
Hyperstition and Creative Frameworks
Hyperstitions are deployed within Creative Frameworks via Creation Templates and their narrative-symbolic infrastructure:
- Elite Hyperstition – Weaponized by System Architects and distributed through Symbol Factories and Ideological Institutions to reinforce elite dominance.
* Example: "There is no alternative" (TINA) to capitalism.
- Emancipatory Hyperstition – Seeded by activists, artists, and conscious agents to reprogram symbolic terrain.
* Example: "We are the 99%," or "Healing is possible."
Hyperstition and the Lightning Path
From the LP perspective, hyperstition is a mechanism embedded in the archetypal, narrative, and symbolic layers of the Creative Framework. It is deeply tied to:
- Archetype Systems
- Master Narratives
- Positioning Statements
- Symbol Factories and System Architects
- Toxic Socialization and Indoctrination
In Old Energy systems, hyperstition functions as psychosocial malware, enforcing trauma-based ideologies (e.g., "You deserve to suffer", "This is just how the world works"). In a New Energy context, hyperstition becomes a tool of conscious reprogramming: a way to overwrite destructive narratives with healing, empowering, and integrative symbolic scaffolding.
Hyperstition and Systemic Indoctrination
Hyperstition and Systemic Indoctrination both modulate perception and belief:
| Aspect | Hyperstition | Systemic Indoctrination |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Symbolic emergence through feedback | Institutionalized control of belief systems |
| Function | Seed change (or contain it) | Lock populations into predetermined worldviews |
| Tool of… | Narrative engineers, artists, mythmakers | State, church, media, education |
| Alignment | Can be used by elites or liberation movements | Typically elite-directed |
Notes
Hyperstition has historically been used without critical distinction between elite and liberatory usage. The LP system introduces a normative ethical distinction: Does the hyperstition support healing, emancipation, and connection—or reinforce trauma, submission, and alienation?
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