Zombification in Real Life: How Influence Shapes Us

When you hear the word zombification, horror movies might be the first thing that comes to mind. But according to Dr. Athena Aktipis—psychologist, professor at Arizona State University, and self-proclaimed “Zombie Professor”—zombification is something we all experience daily, and it’s not always a bad thing.

Rethinking “Zombification”

Dr. Aktipis defines zombification as being under the influence of something that is not yourself. It can be negative, like when our phones control our attention, or positive, like the way pets bring out the best in us.

To push this concept further, she founded the Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, an interdisciplinary conference where scientists explore serious topics through the playful lens of zombies. By encouraging fun and curiosity over ego, the event sparks creative conversations across fields.

“We would purposefully make it so the expectation is that you are being playful, you’re having fun. There’s no egos and posing.”

Smartphones and the Zombification Effect

One of the most relatable examples? Our phones.

Dr. Aktipis points out that constant smartphone use creates a zombification effect, pulling us away from real life. She suggests a few strategies to break the spell:

• Avoid using your phone before bedtime

• Switch the screen to black-and-white mode to make it less enticing

• Focus on making real life more interesting than what’s on your phone

These simple adjustments remind us that while technology is powerful, we can choose how much control it has over us.

The Bright Side: Positive Zombification

Not all zombification is harmful. In fact, some forms are deeply beneficial.

Take our relationships with pets: dogs activate our oxytocin system (the bonding hormone), and we activate theirs in return. Romantic relationships can work the same way when influence aligns with our health, goals, and happiness.

By reframing zombification as potentially positive, Dr. Aktipis challenges us to rethink influence not as loss of control, but as connection.

From Cancer Cells to Cooperation

Beyond zombies, Dr. Aktipis has written extensively about cooperation and cheating in biology. In her book The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer, she explains how cancer represents cells “breaking the social contract.”

Cancer cells cheat by:

• Replicating endlessly

• Refusing to die when they should

• Hoarding resources

• Avoiding division of labor

• Damaging their environment

This evolutionary framework opens new ways to study and potentially treat disease.

Microbes, Spirituality, and Connection

One of the most fascinating ideas Dr. Aktipis explores is the role of the microbiome in spirituality. She suggests that microbes in our gut produce neurotransmitters and hormones that influence feelings of calm, connection, and transcendence.

This “microbial spirituality” hypothesis may even explain why group practices like prayer or meditation feel so powerful: shared microbiomes could amplify the sense of unity.

The Walkaway Strategy: Cooperation with Boundaries

At the core of Dr. Aktipis’s work is cooperation. During her PhD research, she developed the walkaway strategy—begin by cooperating, but if others exploit you, walk away.

It’s a way to protect yourself from being taken advantage of without closing off to new, positive interactions.

“People worry so much about not getting exploited that oftentimes they miss great opportunities for positive interactions.”

Rethinking Influence in Everyday Life

Dr. Athena Aktipis’s work reframes zombification as more than a horror trope. It’s a lens to understand the subtle influences shaping our lives—from smartphones and pets to microbes and relationships.

Sometimes those influences harm us. Sometimes they heal us. The key is learning to recognize the difference—and knowing when to walk away.