Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Wed, Mar 31 2004
Mob Mentality
I enjoy reading psychological "stuff" because it provides a springboard for developing plots and characterization. This morning, through a series of news-related links, I found myself reading through a paper from the Secret Service. Don't worry. I didn't hack into their computers. That wouldn't be my style. I just went to their site and browsed until I ran across a 17-page PDF file entitled Assessing Threats of Targeted Group Violence: Contributions from Social Psychology. The paper does a fairly good job of outlining the behavior of an individual in a group setting, and explores the methods by which a group can seduce, include, indoctrinate and reward individuals. It also outlines the methods by which a group can coerce, punish and even expel or eliminate resisting individuals who do not help to advance the goals of the group and who question the authority of the group or the group's leader(s).
The paper is designed to be used in connection with studying extremist or terrorist groups and individuals who might bring difficulty to our national security. But I just couldn't help but wonder if anyone ever bothers to apply these principles to the group that makes up the inner circle of people surrounding the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. Right now I'm thinking specifically of the people questioning and testifying in the commission investigating the September 11 events. I see these same group dynamics being played out for and against several individuals involved in this whole process. I'm not saying any of them would become physically violent, but one can easily see the parallels in the way alliances are formed and broken, and the way pressure is put on first one, and then another, to make the final outcome be exactly what the group wants it to be. It makes certain things pretty predictable, and maybe even inevitable. I don't know if knowing that makes me feel any safer as an American.
posted at: 08:55 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
I enjoy reading psychological "stuff" because it provides a springboard for developing plots and characterization. This morning, through a series of news-related links, I found myself reading through a paper from the Secret Service. Don't worry. I didn't hack into their computers. That wouldn't be my style. I just went to their site and browsed until I ran across a 17-page PDF file entitled Assessing Threats of Targeted Group Violence: Contributions from Social Psychology. The paper does a fairly good job of outlining the behavior of an individual in a group setting, and explores the methods by which a group can seduce, include, indoctrinate and reward individuals. It also outlines the methods by which a group can coerce, punish and even expel or eliminate resisting individuals who do not help to advance the goals of the group and who question the authority of the group or the group's leader(s).
The paper is designed to be used in connection with studying extremist or terrorist groups and individuals who might bring difficulty to our national security. But I just couldn't help but wonder if anyone ever bothers to apply these principles to the group that makes up the inner circle of people surrounding the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. Right now I'm thinking specifically of the people questioning and testifying in the commission investigating the September 11 events. I see these same group dynamics being played out for and against several individuals involved in this whole process. I'm not saying any of them would become physically violent, but one can easily see the parallels in the way alliances are formed and broken, and the way pressure is put on first one, and then another, to make the final outcome be exactly what the group wants it to be. It makes certain things pretty predictable, and maybe even inevitable. I don't know if knowing that makes me feel any safer as an American.
posted at: 08:55 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
