People are creative and can make up a surprising amount of ideas.
But sometimes, the person doesn’t seem to be in control of their idea(s). Rather, their ideas seem to have taken hold of them. Controlling their every thought and action while losing the ability to look at the topic from a different point of view. This is what we call being ideologically possessed.
Let me explain what ideology is and why it can affect people if not careful.
What is ideology?
Ideology can be defined as a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons
There are many kinds of convictions, including political, social, ethical, and epistemological.
Ideology relies on a few basic assumptions about reality that may or may not have any factual basis.
What is ideological possession?
Since a philosophy relies on a few basic assumptions about reality that may or may not have any factual basis, things become quite predictable.
The thoughts and ideas of an ideologically possessed person become coherent, repeated patterns made reality by the subjective choices that people make in their daily lives. These ideas serve as the seed around which further thought grows.
Believers in ideology range from passive acceptance through fervent advocacy to true belief. This means that “blind belief” can lead to potentially dangerous situations. Especially if multiple ideologically possessed individuals get together.
Potential causes of ideological possession
Excessive group cohesiveness
One of the potential causes of ideological possession is excessive group cohesiveness.
An extravagant amount of group togetherness and harmony can lead to becoming indoctrinated due to individuals of a group exhibiting too little skepticism and thus, employing too few critical thinking skills in the process.
Excessive group cohesiveness can lead to ignorance of thoughts and ideas from people outside of one’s group.
Exclusion of external opinions and influences
Keeping an open mind is an important aspect to prevent becoming ideologically possessed.
Problems start to arise when individuals start excluding external opinions and influences from other people.
Critical to know is that there’s a whole variety of individual differences between people. Thus, it’s only logical that other people will have different opinions than us from time to time. Different ideas, opinions, and points of view are necessary to improve society.
Ideological congruence
This means that only thoughts, ideas, values, and principles that align with one’s ideologies are searched out and accepted.
A group strives for harmony. But taking this group cohesiveness too far and being overly ideological congruent and harmonious with the other group members and their values, principles, ideas, thoughts, and general “way of thinking” can become dangerous.
High perceived stress from external threat
When we are in, or at least perceive a high amount of external threat, our instinct kicks in and leads us to form a tight group to defend ourselves better. And what better way to protect ourselves than power in numbers?
In times of danger, the cohesiveness of a group is even more important than in times of peace and prosperity. That’s because there’s a bigger incentive to keep the group members focused on the threat instead of potential infighting and conflict with one’s group members.
Symptoms of ideological possession
A feeling of invulnerability and absolute consensus
It’s normal to feel more secure and powerful when surrounded by a group of like-minded people rather than standing alone.
However, if taken too far, this more secure feeling can turn into a sense of invulnerability because “everyone in my group thinks the same as me, and therefore, everyone will support and protect me if needed.”
And while each person has their thoughts, ideas, and goals, no matter how similar some people might be to us, this also means that there can never be an absolute consensus. But in extreme cases of ideological possession, an absolute consensus is expected and even required.
Unquestioning belief
One of the giveaway symptoms of ideological possession is unquestioning belief in thoughts and ideas.
In extreme cases, questioning someone’s ideas and thoughts is not allowed and will be met with punishment. Often in the form of verbal abuse, being excluded, and in extreme cases, physical violence.
And since every individual is different, it’s impossible for people who are not possessed by an idea to think the same as everyone else.
Ignoring or discrediting valid information
Closely related to confirmation bias.
Only information affirming one’s ideas and thoughts, no matter how factually wrong, are searched after. Simultaneously, all information discrediting one’s own beliefs is discredited and thrown away as “incorrect”.
Why do people exhibit this particular behavior?
Oftentimes, no matter what people might say, we desperately try to protect ourselves and our fragile egos from pain. The truth hurts and thus, people often don’t want to hear the harsh truths that might challenge their beliefs.
That’s why a lot of people search for information reaffirming their beliefs while tossing out information challenging their beliefs.
This gives the illusion that their thought process is right and that everyone else’s ideas and thoughts are wrong.
Often extreme pressure is put on skeptics and dissidents trying to weaken and ridicule other people’s beliefs while simultaneously strengthening their own.
Stereotyping people with a different idea
When someone gets overly attached to an idea, individuals with different thoughts and ideas can get stereotyped or ridiculed in an attempt to strengthen someone’s case while weakening other individuals with different views.
Of course, being different and not adhering to someone’s ideas, thoughts, and ideals is no crime and is even to be admired. But to people caught up in this particular toxic behavior, this can be considered “not done” and seen as a disgrace.
Rationalization
Rationalization can take the form of individuals convincing themselves that, despite information and evidence to the contrary, the ideas, and thoughts they have are the best ones.
Common examples are: “Other people disagree with me because they can’t understand my thoughts or ideas.” or “Other people disagree because they haven’t researched the topic as extensively as I did.”
While both examples can be relevant and factually correct, when rationalizing, this is often not the case.
Peer Pressure
When a team member voices a thought, idea, or goal that deviates from the norm of the group, other members will work together in an attempt to pressure, punish, and coerce the deviating group member into compliance.
An example of peer pressure in action might be: “Well if you don’t agree with us then maybe you should not be a member of the team anymore.”
Moral High Ground
Humans tend to perceive themselves as better than they truly are. We like to stroke our egos. We view ourselves as better, stronger, more competent, and morally superior to what we are.
This turns into a real problem if multiple ideologically possessed individuals perceive themselves as moral as well.
Ideologically possessed people
People possessed by an ideology can be compared to extremists.
They are unwilling to bend their thoughts or to listen to other people’s opinions about said topic and are uncompromising. In extreme cases, they can become unable to view their idea or topic from a different point of view.
In a way, one can know what another person who’s possessed by an ideology thinks and will say before even speaking to them.
You might say well, how can we know someone’s beliefs before even speaking with them?
Because these kinds of people are parroting another person’s or another group their beliefs. They think and attribute the idea to themselves, but in reality, it’s someone else’s ideology that has taken control of them.
When talking or discussing with an ideologically possessed person, you’ll hear very little of their actual thoughts and ideas. Their words, thoughts, and actions are merely a reflection of someone else’s.
This means that dogma can potentially be deadly when it is brought forward by any individual too convicted of their own knowledge and/or moral superiority. Because when an individual feels morally superior, the justification could be made that “it’s the right thing to do”.
People obsessed with an idea have only one, often very specific way of seeing things. A smart, rational person knows that things are rarely this simple and not as black or white.
This means that one must be able to view an idea from multiple points of view. Right or wrong lies in the eyes of the beholder. It’s dependent on our value judgments.
How can we prevent becoming ideologically possessed?
It takes a rational person with an open mind to refrain from being possessed by ideas and ideologies. Apply your common sense. You must be able to partake in rational discussion and to move yourself from different points of view.
What we believe to be true can suddenly be found out to be untrue or only partially true. And then the question becomes, “Do we anxiously and fearfully try to hold on to our previously perceived truth that has been exposed as a lie or do we open up our mind for a new, better truth?”
It’s certainly a hard thing to do. Because we as humans often do everything in our power to protect our fragile ego and self-image.
We shouldn’t underestimate how frequently we hold on to a sweet lie to protect us from the bitter truth. It can truly be a tough pill to swallow, but sooner or later, the truth always surfaces.
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