Confessions of the Canceled: The Psychology of Cancel Culture.

The article examines the psychology of cancel culture through the author’s personal experience of being canceled after his appointment as Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. It draws parallels between the public demands for apologies in cancel culture and the concept of false confessions studied in criminal psychology, particularly the compliant and persuaded types identified by Dr. Saul Kassin. The author describes how external pressures, misrepresentations, and minimization tactics compel targets to issue statements or apologies, which often fail to prevent further repercussions such as job loss. The analysis highlights the complex psychological dynamics that lead individuals to acquiesce to cancelation demands despite maintaining their innocence, emphasizing the need to understand these mechanisms to address the broader political and social impacts of cancel culture.