Master suppression techniques

The Master suppression techniques is a framework articulated in 1945 by the Norwegian psychologist and philosopher Ingjald Nissen.[1] These techniques identified by Nissen are ways to indirectly suppress and humiliate opponents. In the late 1970s the framework was popularized by Norwegian social psychologist Berit Ås,[2] who reduced Nissen's original nine means to five. Master suppression techniques are defined as strategies of social manipulation by which a dominant group maintains such a position in a (established or unexposed) hierarchy. They are very prominent in Scandinavian scholarly and public debate, where the expression is also used to refer to types of social manipulation not part of Ås's framework.[3] Master suppression techniques are sometimes called domination techniques.[4]

The five master suppression techniques according to Ås

Making invisible

To silence or otherwise marginalize persons in opposition by ignoring them.

Examples:

Ridicule

In a manipulative way to portray the arguments of, or their opponents themselves, in a ridiculing fashion.

Example:

Withhold information

To exclude a person from the decision making process, or knowingly not forwarding information so as to make the person less able to make an informed choice.

Examples:

Double bind

See also: Double bind

To punish or otherwise belittle the actions of a person, regardless of how they act.

Examples:

Heap blame/put to shame

To embarrass someone, or to insinuate that they are themselves to blame for their position.

Example:

Later additions by Ås

Berit Ås has since added two supplementary master suppression techniques.[5]

Objectifying

See also: Objectification

To discuss the appearance of one or several persons in a situation where it is irrelevant.

Force/threat of force

To threaten with or use one's physical strength towards one or several persons.

Example:

Countermeasures against master suppression techniques

A group of PhD students at Stockholm's University[6] has formulated five Counter strategies:

They have also formulated five Confirmation techniques:


The Center for Gender Equality in Norway has also published an article about how to combat this phenomenon. [7]

References

  1. Ingjald Nissen, Psykopatenes diktatur 1945.
  2. Ås, Berit. "Hersketeknikker". Kjerringråd (Oslo) (1978:3): 17–21. ISSN 0800-0565.
  3. Andrén, Maria (2008-03-11). "Så hanterar du skitsnacket". Chef. Ledarna. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  4. "Domination techniques: what they are and how to combat them" (pdf). The Centre for Gender Equality, Norway. April 2001. p. 12. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  5. Ås, Berit (2004). "The Five Master Suppression Techniques". In Evengård, Birgitta. Women In White: The European Outlook. Stockholm: Stockholm City Council. pp. 78–83. ISBN 91-631-5716-0.
  6. ENSU, Empowerment-Nätverket vid Stockholms Universitet (2004) ”Bekräftartekniker och motstrategier - sätt att bemöta maktstrukturer och förändra sociala klimat.”, 2010-07-01
  7. https://organizingforpower.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/forms-of-domination.pdf

External links

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