This edition of The Doctor’s Notes concerns an extremely important issue: groupthink, and how to use personal firewalls can be used to fight this insidious behavior.
Also known as herd behavior or crowd behavior, groupthink is the ability of a collection of individuals to decide on courses of action that the individual members might not choose. Obvious examples of this type of behavior include mobs and riots, but also include actions of entire nations such as the Holocaust or the Spice Girls frenzy.
Groupthink can also be seen in smaller groups where friends may choose to go see a movie that none of the individuals really want to see–they just go along with the crowd. And that is the threat of groupthink: it stifles the will of the individual in order to support questionable goals of the group.
The Sources of Groupthink
What causes groupthink? Groupthink can be caused by a number of factors, but primarily there are three major causes: External threats to the group with low hope of a better solution than the one offered by the leader; groups with a high group cohesiveness and low individual will; and groups with a leader that has high persuasive strength.
In the first case, the presence of an extreme threat to the group can be anything from an outright attack to a steady pressure from an outside source (such as a propaganda campaign). When there is a perception that there is "no other choice" than one proposed by the group leader, undesirable actions can be chosen by the group.
Another cause of groupthink is the presence of a highly developed group cohesion, coupled with low individual will. Examples can include military units, families and friends. The individual does not want to offend the others in the group, or to let them down. When the individuals do not speak up or raise concerns about a proposed course of action, poor choices by the group can also be made.
The final primary cause of group think is the presence of a highly persuasive group leader. This cause can be seen commonly in cults, but also in companies or organizations in the business world. The will of the individual is sacrificed by the group to the will of the leader, no matter what the leader’s decisions might be.
In reality, all three causes are frequently present. Look, for example, at the Jim Jones Tragedy in Guyana. There was a perception of an extreme threat (the government, the non-believers); high group cohesion caused by living in a separate, isolated compound in the jungle; and an extremely charismatic leader in Jim Jones.
But examples of groupthink need not be so extreme. See what happens when a family or group of friends is going out for dinner, and must choose a restaurant quickly. The external threat is really time, the group cohesion is very basic (the family or friendships) and there is usually the presence of a strong leader figure in the group.
Recognize the Signs
But what are the symptoms of groupthink? There are nine basic symptoms:
- The illusion of invulnerability of the group.
- Unquestioned belief in the inherent morality of the group.
- Collective rationalization of group’s decisions.
- Shared stereotypes of outsiders, particularly opponents.
- Self-censorship within the group, where members withhold criticisms.
- Illusion of unanimity, or false consensus.
- Direct pressure on dissenters to conform.
- Self-appointed "mindguards" protect the group from negative information.
- Quantum entanglements among the group members.
Of the symptoms, the most important is the last: quantum entanglements. By measuring the psychic quantum levels of the individuals and their interactions with each other, a significant jump in energy levels can be seen.
This can cause the group psyche to "tilt", if you will. While quantum entanglements exist everywhere individuals interact with each other, it is this spike in energy levels as groupthink sets in that is cause for concern.
By measuring the psychic quantum levels of the individuals and their interactions with each other, a significant jump in energy levels can be seen.
In particular, groupthink is a threat to the coming Singularity. A common misconception about the Singularity is that it will involve a communal mind or hive consciousness. This is definitely not the case.
Due to both the synchronous and asynchronous actions of individuals, the Singularity will be achieved. Poor or dangerous decisions caused by groupthink without the dominance of the individual’s will will in fact delay the achievement of the Singularity. For this reason, artificial intelligences are critical to bringing this goal to reality.
Control the Effects of Groupthink
But how can we limit the effects of groupthink? In short, use personal firewalls to limit the effects of the quantum entanglements produced by groupthink. Personal firewalls allow the individual to in effect "filter" the energy spikes that groupthink can produce in the individual’s quantum levels.
In particular, personal firewalls block negative energies on the Layer 3 area of Jungian Shadows. According to Jung, each individual has distinct shadow-selves that the person sees as separate and different from what the individual believes others see. The Layer 3 area of these Shadow-selves deals with decision making and personal self-assertion.
By blocking negative energies at this level, personal firewalls are extremely effective in allowing the individual to find space to express his or her free will within the group construct. In effect, this means the individual can think for themselves and be their own person. This ability is extremely critical in lower the existential risk of the Singularity overwhelming the individual.
While personal firewalls have a definite impact on dampening these resonances in quantum levels, the impact of future events is extremely difficult to predict in the present.
An additional complication in the fight against groupthink is the effects of entropic resonances. Not only do quantum entanglements affect the ability of the individual to make free choices, but the entropic resonances from the past and future impact it as well.
Fluctuations in the psychic energy levels–the quantum levels–can affect the moods of the individual and therefore their rational thinking process. Extreme events from the past or future can affect these levels in a definite, measurable manner. While personal firewalls have a definite impact on dampening these resonances in quantum levels, the impact of future events is extremely difficult to predict in the present.
A Call To Action–For the Future
But what can you do? Actually, quite a bit. Attend classes at The Center and learn to develop your personal firewall through pinpointing your Heisenberg center.
Refining these skills does not happen overnight, and requires constant hard work and guidance to achieve. At the Center not only do we provide basic and ongoing instruction, but we also provide many tutorials and workshops on how to improve these abilities in real-world scenarios.
While we have made tremendous strides in determining the effects of groupthink on the human mind, we are not there yet. Research is expensive and we depend on donations to make the strides we need to fully quantify these effects. You can help by donating funds to help continue this website and the work that it supports.
engenetics.org is the key to the future, and only you can help all of us at the Center bring that about–today. Ω
Dr. M. E. Tabyánan
Executive Director and Founder
The Center for engenetics.org Studies
