Prof. Dr. Vagif Rakhmanov, Director of Scientific Research Institute of Child and Family Therapy, Psychology, Medical Rehabilitation, Ukraine
For many years the author has been observing and analyzing examples of interaction between personality and community. Human is a part of community, both human and community are permanently interacting between one another, other similar structures, people and social units.
It’s obvious that authoritativeness, peer pressure on personality or vice a versa are featuring imminently in such interactions and interrelations.
And these interaction processes do not always pass painlessly hence conformism between them is inevitable.
Conformism literally means passive time-serving agreement, uncritical humble acceptance of existing state of things, laws, norms, rules, attitude towards authoritarian trend.
Similar things happen not only with separate personalities, but also with whole communities, groups. They comply with leader’s authority; at the same time it is not necessarily for him as an influential person to convey dominating position. Instead of him this is done by other mentioned groups-communities, unconsciously bowed to the authority suggested no matter by whom, how and for what purposes. These are interrelations “leader-community” that can further dictate the fates of particular regions, countries and peoples.
At the same time opposite game plan is possible. Authority’s and personality’s opinion, earlier increasing conflict can disappear, dissolve, reorient in favor of another group or personality unconsciousness. It doesn’t follow that our separate personality-leader will happen to be strong and sober-minded at the end.
Hence each thoughtful person should have sense of self-preservation and show this sense. It should exist on the level of instinct and serve not only to self but also to the society in which it exists. That is why a reasonable person should care about peace preservation, ecology, prevention of local and global conflicts and wars. But what do we have, where are we now?
Frightful and savage declarations of a famous political leader are publicly invoking to launch preventive nuclear strike on the territory of adjoining state. Or a Minister of Defense of a state warns to “punish” residents of neighboring country by means of nuclear strike.
A newly-minted elderly leader of some country sets out war crafts and proclaims war against sovereign state. In answer madcap with distinctive features of organic disorder (according to ICD-10, F06, F07) president of the latter state has made a demonstration of racket tests. Thank God, this violent duo had enough good sense to stop show of muscles timely, but the conflict has not been resolved yet.
In the XX-XXI century thanks to social media and mass media leader’s personality role, ideas transformation, authority strengthening are reached quickly, becomes more influential, forceful and often extremely dangerous. This very person can peacefully and tranquilly entertain oneself without a notion about influence, resonance and results of his/her yesterday ill-considered public speech. But the genie is already out of the bottle, his ideas are taken up, spread; seeds have fallen onto fertile ground… Further they will give young crops i.e. coup d’états, wars, civilian deaths. Mass media or social media are directly or indirectly guilty of spreading this idea, keep silence or vice a versa continue people’s mind games.
As evidenced by psychological analysis of many historical, socially significant facts and events, here “Pygmalion effect” is obvious. We notice fallacious, inadequate but socially significant prophecy of a newly-minted “wise man” and “prophet” which became popular in mass media due to advertising, psychological mind games, money. He becomes an action agenda, believes in his theory, righteousness and makes others, close people and juniors believe and subject; and thus he achieves his goal and expected result.
While assured fulfilling pseudo prophecy will lead to sympathy arising among followers. People around are sure in his righteousness and truth of this or that information. Unconsciously they behave and act in a way desired by the prophet. More often such things are realizing, getting their temporary or constant confirmation.
“Father is a treasure you are using blindly; mother is a jewel you are spending with chants; brother (sister) is a support you can base yourself upon in a head wind. Don’t forget about neighbors: you should live nearby so that in case of need (malady, troubles or grief) you could find your way to one another even in the dark without light. Friends who are far away can call you and support with advice, but more often they will think over how much will it take to get to you and some of them directly or indirectly can ask you to refund their expenses at least partially or invent an excuse not to visit you. And neighbors are always nearby. This is life in a crazy world.
Literature
1. Rakhmanov Vagif: Optimism – Pessimism. Paradoxes – Excesses of Modern Civilization with Eyes of Professor, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychoanalyst. Dnipro, 2018