If You Disagree, Are You a Criminal? The Psychology of Control and How to Guard Against It
Throughout history, societies have grappled with the tension between dissent and control. When disagreement becomes criminalised, it often reflects deeper psychological and socio-political dynamics that shape the behaviour of individuals en masse. So, what drives people to follow orders without question? How do entire communities turn against friends and neighbours? And how do systems successfully silence opposition while circumventing legal and moral boundaries?
Psychological Influences: When Do They Become Harmful?
Psychological influences in society can be powerful motivators, but they also have the potential to become destructive when used to suppress free thinking or manipulate behaviour on a mass scale. Influences like fear, peer pressure, and conformity can push individuals to act in ways that violate their personal beliefs or moral compass. The infamous Milgram experiment is a classic example of how authority figures can compel people to perform actions they might otherwise find immoral, simply by shifting responsibility away from the individual.
When psychological influences are weaponised by governments, corporations, or influential leaders, the effects can be devastating. Large-scale propaganda campaigns, for example, can foster an “us vs. them” mentality, encouraging citizens to turn against those with differing opinions, often seeing dissent as dangerous or unpatriotic. Over time, the psychological weight of societal pressure can lead to the demonisation of disagreement, where differing viewpoints are viewed not just as wrong but as criminal.
How Do People Follow Orders Without Questioning?
One of the most striking aspects of human behaviour is the tendency to obey authority, often without questioning the rationale behind the orders given. This can happen for several reasons:
Fear of punishment: People are often motivated by a desire to avoid negative consequences, whether those are legal penalties, social ostracism, or damage to their reputation.
Conformity and groupthink: When the majority of a group follows a particular path, individuals feel pressured to align themselves with the group, fearing they may stand out or be rejected.
Deference to authority: Many people are conditioned to trust authority figures—be it government officials, employers, or community leaders—believing that those in power have more knowledge or wisdom than they do.
Over time, these influences create a culture where people may follow orders or adopt certain beliefs without examining the morality or reasoning behind them.
Turning Against Friends and Neighbours: How Does It Happen?
It's unsettling how quickly people can turn against friends, neighbours, or even family members when societal pressure dictates it. This phenomenon is often rooted in scapegoating and fear. When a group or authority seeks to maintain control, identifying a common enemy, whether real or imagined, can unite the larger population against that group. Once individuals feel that their safety or stability is at risk, they're more likely to act in ways that protect themselves, even at the expense of personal relationships.
Historical events like the witch hunts in Salem, McCarthyism in the U.S., or more recently, the social media "cancel culture," demonstrate how powerful group psychology can be in creating a climate of suspicion and betrayal.
How Are People Silenced Successfully?
Silencing dissent is a crucial tool for maintaining control. Those in power often use tactics such as intimidation, censorship, and public humiliation to quiet opposition. Silencing can occur both overtly and covertly:
Overt silencing: This includes direct censorship, imprisonment, or threats of violence. Governments often employ these methods in authoritarian regimes, where media outlets and public figures are closely monitored and opposition is quashed.
Covert silencing: This is more subtle and includes strategies like discrediting individuals or ideas, spreading misinformation, and controlling the narrative through media. By controlling what people hear and see, those in power can steer public opinion in a way that makes dissent seem unreasonable or dangerous.
Silencing dissent often leads to self-censorship, where people avoid speaking out to protect themselves from backlash. This form of social control is particularly dangerous because it allows for the perpetuation of harmful systems and ideologies with minimal opposition.
Circumventing the Law: How Control Escapes Scrutiny
One of the most insidious forms of control is when those in power find ways to operate outside the law. They may exploit legal loopholes, control legal institutions, or create new laws that allow them to sidestep justice. In some cases, influential figures or organizations may exert pressure on the legal system itself, ensuring that laws are either not enforced or are selectively applied to benefit the powerful. This undermines the rule of law, further entrenching control while leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable.
How Can We Guard Against Harmful Psychological Influences?
Recognising the signs of mass manipulation is the first step in guarding against it. Here are some strategies to protect yourself:
Question authority: Don’t blindly follow orders or accept information from those in power. Always consider the motives behind decisions and directives.
Encourage critical thinking: Promote a culture of open dialogue and encourage people to ask questions. Critical thinking helps individuals resist the pull of groupthink and propaganda.
Educate yourself on history: Understanding how psychological manipulation has been used in the past to suppress dissent can help people recognize it in the present.
Build strong communities: Isolation makes people more susceptible to manipulation. Building strong, supportive networks can help people resist societal pressures.
Speak out: Even when it feels difficult, speaking up against injustice or manipulation is crucial. Silence often enables oppressive systems to thrive.
Final Thoughts
History has shown us time and again how easily large groups can be influenced to follow damaging ideologies, turn against one another, and silence dissenters. By fostering a culture of critical thinking, questioning authority, and building strong social ties, we can guard against the damaging effects of psychological control and protect our individual freedoms.
Comments