The infected self: Revisiting the metaphor of the mind virus

Abstract

The idea that units of culture may act as a virus controlling some of the perceptions and actions of individuals has been the subject of considerable controversy since proposed by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. This debate has occurred in the absence of a defined mental viral structure or a target body upon which such viral structures may act. This article develops a paradigm in which the self is understood as such a body upon which future research into “mind viruses” may be undertaken. Possible mechanisms for mind-viral transmission are discussed. Criteria for defining a mental virus are used to examine evidence of possible mind-virus contagion in suicides, suicide cults, terrorism, and religion.