Bystanders and Groupthinkers
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If I Only Had a Brain
75th anniversary of The
Wizard of Oz (1939)—and still learning from it
Have
you ever wondered what prevents people from helping others in need? Specifically,
in the international NCI et al fraud, what prevents people from responding to
the ongoing calls for help? Intentional cover ups by complicit people are a big
part, but they are not the full story. What prevents us from
using our brains, literally, to think critically and to act morally?
Some
of the inaction can be attributed to cognitive dissonance--the self-justification
that occurs when we experience (consciously or unconsciously) a discrepancy
between our purported values and our actual actions (see the weblog
entry on Deception from Oct-Nov 2013
for more examples). We basically rationalize away our responsibility for and
fear of taking a stand, preserving our sense of goodness and livelihoods, and explain
away mistakes made or wrongs done. It is a serious de facto flaw that is
hard-wired into our brains, affecting our thinking objectively and morally.
Two
other dynamics (largely social influences) that affect people’s lack of response
to helping others are the bystander effect and groupthink. Both
involve uncritical social conformity and deceptive self or group-rationalization/protection.
In cases such as NCI et al., these “normal” social processes, alone and with others, seriously distort reality to the detriment of others. Let’s have a look.
Bystanders
“The bystander effect is a social psychological
phenomenon that refers to cases in which individuals do not offer any means of
help to a victim when other people are present. The probability of help is
inversely related to the number of bystanders. In other words, the greater the
number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help.
Several variables help to explain why the bystander effect occurs. These
variables include: ambiguity, cohesiveness and diffusion of responsibility.”
For more information see the rest of this wiki entry at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect
Application to NCI et al—Be aware of these dynamics and self-statements,
examples: “I really don’t understand all of this stuff
(nor do I want to know); No one else seems to be doing anything so why should
I; There is little that I can do, want to do, am responsible for doing; The “authorities" and/or leaders will
help; Someone else somewhere is somehow
responsible to do something at sometime.”
Antidote: Get informed—use your critical thinking
brain. Act with integrity—use your morally-competent
brain . See the Shine the Light-Together
petition below for more information and action.
The wicked witch’s castle:
A testing ground for bystanders and groupthinkers
Groupthinkers
"[Groupthink is a] mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a
cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings for unanimity override their
motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. (Janis)….Janis
prescribed three antecedent conditions to groupthink: 1) High group cohesiveness; 2) Structural
faults (insulation of the group, lack of impartial leadership, lack of norms
requiring methodological procedures, homogeneity of members' social backgrounds
and ideology); 3) Situational context (highly
stressful external threats, recent
failures, excessive difficulties on
the decision-making task, moral
dilemmas)…. According to Janis, decision making groups are not necessarily
destined to groupthink. He devised seven ways of preventing groupthink” For more information see the rest of
this wiki entry at:
Ten Symptoms (Processes) of
Groupthink
Decision Making:
A Psychological Analysis of Conflict, Choice, and Commitment (Janis & Leon, 1979).
A. Overestimation of the group’s power and morality
1. Illusion of
Invulnerability: Members ignore obvious danger, take extreme risk, and are
overly optimistic.
2. Collective
Rationalization: Members discredit/explain away warning contrary to group
thinking.
B. Close-mindedness
3. Illusion of
Morality: Members believe their decisions are morally correct, ignoring the
ethical consequences of their decisions.
4. Excessive
Stereotyping: The group constructs negative stereotypes of rivals outside
the group.
C. Pressures towards uniformity
5. Pressure for
Conformity: Members pressure any in the group who express arguments against
the group’s stereotypes, illusions, or commitments, viewing such opposition as
disloyalty.
6. Lack of Self-Censorship:
Members withhold their dissenting views and counter-arguments.
7. Illusion of
Unanimity: Members perceive falsely that everyone agrees with the group’s
decision; silence is seen as consent.
8. Mindguards:
Some members appoint themselves to the role of protecting the group from adverse information that might
threaten group complacency.
Added by PETRA People--In “religious” settings two
other symptoms/processes are relevant and affect the other eight above:
D. Belief in Divine specialness
9. Special divine
guidance. Pervasive wish/distorting belief that God is especially with
us/our group/our leaders and guiding us and protecting us. What we do is really
special—extra special. Human accountability is not really needed.
10. Special
divine favor. Pervasive wish/distorting belief that we are God’s special
agents/recipients of God’s special favor. We are really special—extra special. Human
accountability is not really needed.
Challenges or concerns about these beliefs or
actions (9-10) are often seen as being “unspiritual”, “disloyal,” and/or
“rebellious.” People who question them can be discredited, disciplined, and
dismissed. Or even worse.
Application to NCI et al—Be aware of these
dynamics and self-statements, examples: “Leaders are informed. I trust
our leaders unquestionably. The group knows best. I am part of a
group/organization that acts ethically. We are right and see things clearly or
the most clearly. Others are mistaken. Because we are right/special we do not
need outside help/accountability. We always think critically and act morally.”
Antidote: Get informed—use your critical thinking
brain. Act with integrity—use your morally-competent
brain. See the Shine the Light-Together petition below for more information and
action.
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Using Our Brains
We sincerely hope that in
2014 there will be changes: decisive shifts in the ongoing cognitive
dissonance, bystander effect, and groupthink that have plagued the
church-mission community, compromising its moral integrity and spiritual
authority. We have brains to help—critically thinking brains and morally competent
brains. Let’s use them!
Shine the Light-Together
Shine the light on fraud. Your voice counts!
This petition is an international call for the organizations and people affected
This petition is an international call for the organizations and people affected
by the NCI fraud to help--to transparently and verifiably disclose.
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"An important part of Nordic Capital Investment KB (NCI) has been
successfully prosecuted in Sweden and declared to be a longstanding fraud
(2010-2011). One person was prosecuted, a Swedish man, and there are thousands
of pages of court documents now that shed light on the far broader aspects of
this international fraud (see the link to the "NCI Summary Information: 10
Core Points" at the top of the PETRA people
website--https://sites.google.com/site/petrapeople/).
It is time for the many organizations and people, especially in the
church and mission community (CMC), to transparently and verifiably disclose
how they have been affected. Members of these organizations (past and present),
donors, and the public are asked to help by respectfully and resolutely calling
for the assistance of those affected by NCI. Millions of euros and dollars are
still missing.
The important PETRA
Statement 2012 below overviews the international NCI et al.
fraud and the previous calls for assistance. It also provides you with core
inks to important documents and lists the organizations that are being asked
again for help. The Statement and core links are crucial for
understanding and confronting NCI…”
More information is
on the petition web site.
Sign it, share it, and act on it!
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