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, and claimed this was a technique mostly used in the workplace by men against women. Master suppression techniques are defined as strategies of social manipulation by which a dominant group maintains such a position in an (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

Silencing or otherwise marginalizing people in opposition by ignoring them.

Examples:

  • A speaker claims ownership of an idea belonging to an opponent.
  • When it is the opponent's turn to speak, other attendees start to talk to each other or browse through their papers to undermine what the opponent is saying.

Ridicule
See also: Appeal to ridicule

Portraying the arguments of an opponent, or the opponents themselves, in a ridiculing fashion.

Example:

  • Telling an opponent that they look cute when they are angry while they are trying to make an accusation of wrongdoing against someone.

Withholding information

Excluding 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:

  • Not including one in a meeting about a matter that concerns them.
  • Decisions are made not in a conference where everyone is present, but at a dinner party later in the evening where only some attendants have been invited.

Double bind
See also: Double bind

Punishing or otherwise belittling the actions of an opponent, regardless of how they act.

Example:

  • Despite doing tasks thoroughly, the opponent receives complaints for being too slow. When tasks are done efficiently, the opponent receives complaints of being sloppy.

Heaping blame/putting to shame

Embarrassing someone or insinuating that they themselves are to blame for their position.

Example:

  • When raising concerns about being slandered, the opponent is told that it is their fault since they (for example) dress provocatively.

Later additions by Ås

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

Objectifying
See also: Objectification

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

Force/threat of force

Threatening with or using one's physical strength towards one or several persons.

Example:

  • "One more word from you and I'll smash your face!"

Countermeasures against master suppression techniques

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

  • Take place
  • Questioning
  • The cards on the table
  • Break the pattern
  • Intellectualise

They have also formulated five confirmation techniques:

  • Visualizing
  • Adherence
  • Inform
  • Double reward
  • Confirm reasonable standards

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

See also

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. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  5. Ås, Berit (2004). "The Five Master Suppression Techniques". In Evengård, Birgitta (ed.). 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. Domination techniques: what they are and how to combat them
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