The Problem with Peer Group Pressure.
Education is not a weapon and neither is it a protection against peer group pressure. Peer group pressure is created by an authoritarian based society which could be: political, religious, economic or social and the pressure to conform is often imposed upon freedom loving and non-conformist individuals, by authorities dedicated to creating compliance and conformity.
The instinctive fear of isolation and the need for acceptance within a family or group, keeps most individuals obeying and following the "norms" of a family and of a society. Sometimes, however, rebels are created through neglect and isolation. They still have a need for social acceptance and love, but often, through neglect, are forced to find acceptance within other groups. This is how rebel groups are formed.
It is ignorance and fear created by neglect which guide their social interactions. Fear of domination keeps them outside what is considered the normal parameters of a larger society and so, searching for social acceptance, they create their own small and sometimes dangerous societies.
The deep and instinctive need for social acceptance is manipulated by peer group pressure. Even provided with years of fact-based education and alternative concepts, an individual is subject to peer group pressure and to the beliefs of the crowd. Individual capitulation is often the result.
The belief in a God or Gods is a good example. There is absolutely no logic in religion but religious beliefs continue to spread through word of mouth and propagated generation after generation from parents to children in spite of the creation of fact based educational systems. When standing in a large crowd of patriotic people, intelligent scientists will stand up and shout God save the Queen along with everybody else, even if he or she does not believe in the concept of a God.
The crowd creates the peer group pressure simply by overwhelming numbers. And who could blame the scientist for joining the crowd? Shouting anything else in that context would immediately brand the contrarian as a heretic and he or she could be burned at the stake of public opinion. Real bonfires with victims tide to a stake occurred for centuries but today individuals with creative intelligence and imagination are slowly integrated into society, even if they refuse to believe in a God as an almighty creator of everything.
And so I end this little essay with the words...God save all non-believers, for they speak the truth!
Confusing, isn't it? Grin!
N.J. R.
No comments:
Post a Comment