Introduction
What if most people around you are merely running on scripts responding to the world not with self-awareness, but with programmed reflexes? This idea, while provocative, has gained traction in internet culture under the term NPC theory. Originally a meme, the idea suggests that a large portion of the population might not be fully conscious, acting more like background characters in a game than truly autonomous beings.
But is there any philosophical, scientific, or psychological grounding for this notion?
This blog explores the “NPC theory” through the lenses of consciousness studies, behavioral psychology, and simulation theory not as a conspiracy, but as a speculative framework to question the nature of human awareness.
What Is NPC Theory?
In video games, NPCs (non-playable characters) are programmed to behave in predictable ways, often repeating the same lines and routines. Online, the term has evolved into a metaphor for people who appear to go through life without self-reflection or original thought those who adopt mass opinions, follow trends blindly, or react predictably to events.
The NPC meme exploded on platforms like Reddit and Twitter, but it echoes a much older philosophical question: How many people are truly conscious?
Consciousness: A Rare Phenomenon?
The hard problem of consciousness why and how subjective experiences arise has puzzled philosophers and scientists for centuries. Some thinkers propose that consciousness might not be a universal trait but rather a spectrum.
David Chalmers, who coined the term “hard problem,” suggests that not all information-processing systems (like human brains) necessarily produce conscious experience (Chalmers, 1995). In fact, most of what the brain does is unconscious: walking, talking, even making decisions.
A 2008 study by neuroscientist Benjamin Libet showed that brain activity linked to decision-making occurs before people are consciously aware of their choice (Libet et al., 1983). This supports the idea that many actions may originate outside conscious awareness like an NPC following a script.
The Illusion of Free Will
Neuroscientific findings challenge the notion of free will a cornerstone of what many associate with being “conscious.” In 2010, neuroscientist Sam Harris argued that free will is an illusion, and most human behavior is automatic, driven by conditioning and biology. As he puts it:
“You are not controlling the storm, and you are not lost in it. You are the storm.”
If this is true, then many people may feel conscious but operate without introspection or agency like reactive algorithms.
The Herd Effect: Following Without Thinking
Social psychology provides more evidence. The herd mentality suggests most people follow the group rather than think independently. Experiments like the Asch conformity tests show that people often conform to group opinions even when they are objectively wrong (Asch, 1951).
From social media behavior to political echo chambers, much of modern life amplifies NPC-like tendencies automatic, tribal, emotionally driven responses rather than independent thought.
Simulation Theory: Are We All NPCs in Someone Else’s Game?
The NPC theory overlaps intriguingly with simulation theory. Philosopher Nick Bostrom famously proposed that we might be living in a computer simulation run by advanced beings (Bostrom, 2003). If true, it’s plausible that not every entity in the simulation would require full consciousness just as not every character in a video game does.
Elon Musk and other tech leaders have popularized this idea. If our reality is simulated, then perhaps only some entities (the “players”) are meant to be truly conscious while the rest are filler for realism.
A Dangerous or Liberating Idea?
The “NPC theory” can easily veer into elitist or dehumanizing territory. Labeling others as unconscious risks justifying arrogance or dismissal of real people. It’s crucial to treat this theory as speculative and metaphorical, not a reason to devalue human beings.
However, there’s a liberating insight here, too: rather than assuming everyone is awake, maybe the real task is to wake up yourself. To stop running on autopilot. To act consciously, question reality, and write your own script.
Conclusion: How to Avoid Becoming an NPC
Whether or not most people are NPCs, many live as if they are reactive, unexamined, predictable. The call, then, is not to identify NPCs in others, but to root them out within yourself.
Here are a few ways to stay “awake”:
- Practice daily mindfulness
- Question your own beliefs and routines
- Limit passive consumption (scrolling, bingeing, etc.)
- Seek out discomfort and novelty
- Engage in reflective journaling or deep conversation
If consciousness is rare, let yours count.
References:
- Chalmers, D. (1995). Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness. Link
- Libet, B., Gleason, C. A., Wright, E. W., & Pearl, D. K. (1983). Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readiness-potential). Brain. Link
- Asch, S. E. (1951). Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments. Simply Psychology summary
- Bostrom, N. (2003). Are You Living in a Computer Simulation? Philosophical Quarterly. Link
- Harris, S. (2012). Free Will. Free Press.