In The Occupy Together Movement- Collective Actions and the Need for Individual Thought I outlined my misgivings about what I called the ‘occupy phenomena’, the current style of protest that’s sweeping through First World countries, (as different to the ‘colour revolutions’ that characterise lesser developed countries). The information and links in this post will hopefully provide the means for individuals engaged in group protest to identify and withstand covert manipulation by others who may be intent on covertly steering the group.
By doing this I don’t mean to state conclusively that this is happening in any groups in particular. To ignore the possibility and, as a result, not prepare for such would leave one vulnerable and diminish the value and potential of the individual within the group. The information can also be used to develop individual and collective potential within groups.
The following links are intended as starting points for research that everyone who is serious about working within a group toward sociopolitical change should undertake.
Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis (1972), occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment”
What is Groupthink? provides an overview of the subject and includes a series of six booster shots designed by psychologists to reduce the risk of being infected by groupthink.
CROWDS and LEADERSHIP is an excellent resource for developing one’s potential within groups, and for empowering individuals against the abuse of such knowledge.
GROUP WORK PRACTICE is a helpful aid to understanding group dynamics
Group Team Dynamics: Understanding the Overt and Covert Dynamics That Support Effective Work is a Post Graduate course description which gives an idea how detailed a subject Group Dynamics is, and an insight into how much an individual could potential be trained in it (even just at a Post Grad level)
Those so inclined will also benefit from an examination of the principles and techniques of Ericksonian and Milton Model hypnosis, also known as Conversational Hypnosis due to its use of apparently innocent language to affect behaviour and thinking.
An Examination of Obama’s Use of Hidden Hypnosis Techniques in His Speeches
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Knowledge is Power. Your Ignorance is Their Bliss
Filed under: Peace, Resistance Tagged: | Occupy Wall Street
