Groupthink v. Discernment

Have you sometimes wondered why certain mass movements happen in the course of human history, characterised by behaviour or morality that seems to defy rational understanding?

Professor Mattias Desmet, a clinical psychologist at Ghent University here in Belgium, has spent a lot of time researching these strange social behaviours, and recently published a book about what he calls Mass Formations – The Psychology of Totalitarianism. I highly recommend reading it (or listening to the audiobook, as I did). It helps to understand our current global situation in many areas of life, though makes it no more tolerable.

Professor Desmet shows that mass formation psychosis, such as what we’ve lived through globally since early 2020, is caused by several factors coming together, including (but not only):

• Loneliness
• Social isolation
• Financial insecurity
• A target of loathing or “cause” to be acted upon
• A refusal to examine facts that don’t confirm one’s own biases and beliefs

These and other factors make people susceptible to firmly believing something that may seem valid or plausible (especially when coming from an “authoritative” source) but which ultimately doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. This unquestioned belief then starts to dominate their life and social interactions, often with awful consequences.

When I trained in hypnotherapy in 2017, I saw how easily people could change their thoughts through powerful, and even subtle, repeated suggestions. It’s immensely transformative and helpful when used therapeutically. But the type of group hypnosis we’ve been experiencing in our world causes such schisms in society – cutting through families, workplaces, friendships – that people turn against their loved ones in the fervent belief they are morally justified to defend the cause.

In the Christian Crusades, Mao’s China, Nazi Germany, revolutionary France and Iran, and during the widespread witch-hunts of the 17th century (to name just a few better-known examples) children betrayed their parents to the authorities of the times and vice-versa. Siblings and neighbours turned against each other in the firm belief they were right and the other was not just wrong, but evil.

We are still under the spell of the Covid psychosis, although it is fading into the background and has now shifted somewhat since February to the latest crisis: the war in Ukraine and the threat of nuclear war. Or at least that is what the media would have us fear.

Mass formation requires polarised, concrete thinking – nuance is not welcome because that implies being able to see both sides of a situation. So in our most recent episodes, for example, you must either be for Ukraine or for Russia , and you either support vaccines and believe they are the solution to the Covid problem, or you’re an Anti-vaxxer.

It also requires performative action – like posting your vaccination status to social media, or wearing or flying another country’s flag publicly to show how compassionate you are. This is because mass formation means your choices are not reinforced by your own morality, or your quiet inner compass.

Rather they are dictated by the overarching belief of the masses since the “appropriate” behaviour is unconsciously adopted from the mass formation, much as babies silently learn by observing their parents. And this behaviour requires the scrutiny and approval of the mob.

If you ask questions, you are against us: keep quiet or bear the wrath of the mob

Historically, there have always been small numbers of people able to critically observe the phenomenon of their times and who try to point out the logical inconsistencies and/or immorality inherent in such situations. Most often, their voices are drowned out and sidelined by the majority who react violently and attack even loved ones when challenged on their beliefs or shown evidence contradicting their convictions.

Eventually the mob fizzles out – fighting for a cause and remaining ever-vigilant over those who don’t share it is exhausting! And those who tried to stand for harmony and humanity can eventually emerge from hiding with heads held high until the next wave takes over.

Some of you reading this will be thinking: “You’re preaching to the converted”. Yet, statistically, many people can’t – or won’t – see their own black and white thinking. That’s how the mind works: it selects for what it wants to see and ignores or invents the rest.

Psychosis is not a failing of the uneducated – we have seen it recently amongst highly-educated people. It can wash over any unexamined mind as long as the agenda is compelling and the circumstances are just right.

This is why a strong spiritual practice of questioning and clarifying our thoughts is so important throughout our lifetime – and this practice is never ending, alas! Even enlightened beings have slid backwards toward infamy due to the seductive trickiness of the mind (Mercury, which in astrology represents our thinking, is known as the trickster!).

Don’t believe every thought you think, especially if you were told to think them!

After breakfast most mornings at Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhist monasteries around the world, you will see (and hear!) hundreds of monks and nuns in pairs, intellectually challenging each other on their understanding of the nature of reality and other Buddhist teachings.

Each time they ask for more clarification they loudly slap their hands towards the one they’re questioning, symbolically indicating they must “wake up!” and get clear about what they think they know. It teaches them to become better students, and eventually excellent teachers as well. We could use some of this critical thinking in our own lives! Luckily, it’s never too late to learn.

the most significant role of a spiritual teacher is not to tell us what to think, but to show us the true nature of reality

The Full Moon on July 13th is traditionally when we express gratitude and veneration for our highest spiritual masters – the gurus who have removed the darkness and shown us the light. On this Guru Purnima I give thanks to the many teachers who have peeled back the veil of my ignorance, and who continue to challenge my thinking each day.

May you always see the light no matter how much darkness surrounds you

With love and light as always,
Susan