Master Suppression Techniques

Master Suppression Master Suppression TechniquesTechniques

by Berit Ås, Oslo, Norwayby Berit Ås, Oslo, Norwayas published by St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, Philippines (1999)as published by St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, Philippines (1999)

Powerpoint presentation by June Edvenson, Edvenson Consulting Powerpoint presentation by June Edvenson, Edvenson Consulting (2009)(2009)

for use infor use inBusiness Communication in English: Presentations & Negotiations,Business Communication in English: Presentations & Negotiations,

BI – Norwegian School of ManagementBI – Norwegian School of ManagementNote: Content is modified to enhance suitability for presentationNote: Content is modified to enhance suitability for presentation

to a broad student audience.to a broad student audience.

Content by Berit Ås, 1999. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009.

””A master suppression technique is:A master suppression technique is:the tool a person uses to exercise the tool a person uses to exercise power over someone else.”power over someone else.”

Examples include:Examples include:

• Using language differentlyUsing language differently

• Using different wordsUsing different words

• Constructing sentences differentlyConstructing sentences differently

• Discussing different mattersDiscussing different matters

• Conversing by different timing rulesConversing by different timing rules


Some examples of cultural Some examples of cultural aspectsaspects

Party A• InfluentialInfluential

• Earning more moneyEarning more money

• Actively involvedActively involved

• Time managersTime managers

• PlannersPlanners

• Dominant doersDominant doers

• Ensuring power Ensuring power positionposition

Party B• Subject to influenceSubject to influence

• Earning less moneyEarning less money

• Passively involvedPassively involved

• Time slavesTime slaves

• FollowersFollowers

• Supportive doersSupportive doers

• Unable to assure Unable to assure power positionpower position


Technique number 1:Technique number 1:Making InvisibleMaking Invisible

• Occurs when a person (or group) chooses Occurs when a person (or group) chooses to treat an individual (or group) as if they to treat an individual (or group) as if they were not there.were not there.

• Examples:Examples:– A person presents and no one comments.A person presents and no one comments.– A person comments and no one responds.A person comments and no one responds.– A group/person raise their hands, but the A group/person raise their hands, but the

instructor never calls on them.instructor never calls on them.– A company presents an offer the other party A company presents an offer the other party

pretends they did not hear or receive.pretends they did not hear or receive.– Paraverbal behavior that signals invisibility of Paraverbal behavior that signals invisibility of

othersothers


Effect of Making Another Effect of Making Another Invisible:Invisible:

• Robs individuals and groups of their identity.Robs individuals and groups of their identity.

• Engenders feelings of inferiority and Engenders feelings of inferiority and insignificance.insignificance.

• Encourages passive acceptance of Encourages passive acceptance of prejudice .prejudice .

• Results in institutional rigidity.Results in institutional rigidity.

• Contributes to conformity – ’go-along to get-Contributes to conformity – ’go-along to get-along.’along.’


Technique number 2:Technique number 2:RidiculingRidiculing

• Occurs when one’s efforts are scorned, made Occurs when one’s efforts are scorned, made fun of, presented as over-emotional or fun of, presented as over-emotional or inappropriate. Can also occur when another is inappropriate. Can also occur when another is rejected as cold, manipulative, incompetent.rejected as cold, manipulative, incompetent.

• Examples:Examples:– A person tells others that his partner is sloppy A person tells others that his partner is sloppy

when both share the responsibility for an error.when both share the responsibility for an error.– A boss suggests his employees are naive or stupid.A boss suggests his employees are naive or stupid.– Advertisers use pornography that ridicules a Advertisers use pornography that ridicules a

specific type of person or group in order to sell specific type of person or group in order to sell their products.their products.


Effects of Ridiculing Others:Effects of Ridiculing Others:

• LaughterLaughter

• SatisfactionSatisfaction

• DominationDomination

• ControlControl

• EmbarrassmentEmbarrassment

• InsecurityInsecurity

• AngerAnger

• BoredomBoredom

• Waning interestWaning interest

• Lack of self-esteemLack of self-esteem


Technique number 3:Technique number 3:Withholding InformationWithholding Information

• Occurs when one automatically takes up Occurs when one automatically takes up matters only with those of a select group. matters only with those of a select group. Involves preventing others from Involves preventing others from participating in comment and participating in comment and decisionmaking.decisionmaking.

• Examples:Examples:– A person gets agreements from a company A person gets agreements from a company

Board by not sharing the information with Board by not sharing the information with specific interested parties.specific interested parties.

– A group meets socially, but conducts business A group meets socially, but conducts business affecting another related group or individual.affecting another related group or individual.


Effect of Withholding Effect of Withholding Information:Information:

• Hurts information sharing for all – gaps Hurts information sharing for all – gaps in our knowledgein our knowledge

• Encourages ’anti-social’ socializing Encourages ’anti-social’ socializing

• Fosters discrimination on illegal basesFosters discrimination on illegal bases

• Results in competent persons feeling Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & dis-connectedignorant, insecure & dis-connected


Technique number 4:Technique number 4:the ’Can’t-Win’ approachthe ’Can’t-Win’ approach

• ””Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”• Occurs when it is wrong one does something and Occurs when it is wrong one does something and

also wrong not to choose the same thing. Involves also wrong not to choose the same thing. Involves being squeezed and pressured between mutually being squeezed and pressured between mutually exclusive choices.exclusive choices.

• Examples:Examples:– A person wants to make the family happy, and A person wants to make the family happy, and

commits to an activity. Their job then requires commits to an activity. Their job then requires they commit to another activity that conflicts they commit to another activity that conflicts with the family’s plans.with the family’s plans.

– A manager is accused of being weak when A manager is accused of being weak when cooperative, yet also bullish when assertive.cooperative, yet also bullish when assertive.


Effects of the ’Can’t Win’ Effects of the ’Can’t Win’ Approach:Approach:

• Discourages developing various interests, Discourages developing various interests, concerns, attachmentsconcerns, attachments

• Results in constant guilty conscienceResults in constant guilty conscience

• Creates stress from criticism -from both Creates stress from criticism -from both sidessides

• Results in competent persons feeling Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & dis-connectedignorant, insecure & dis-connected

• Feelings of inadequacy, loss & burn-outFeelings of inadequacy, loss & burn-out


Technique number 5:Technique number 5:Heap Blame & Put to ShameHeap Blame & Put to Shame

• Occurs when one is made to feel ’not good Occurs when one is made to feel ’not good enough,’ even when that is due to (1) enough,’ even when that is due to (1) different behaviors, class, group, or (2) lack different behaviors, class, group, or (2) lack of access to information controlled by others. of access to information controlled by others.

• Examples:Examples:– Encourages those ridiculed to ’accept’ their Encourages those ridiculed to ’accept’ their

lowered status by shaming them directly or in lowered status by shaming them directly or in front of others.front of others.

– Suggests that signs of participatory behavior are Suggests that signs of participatory behavior are inappropriate while cutting off possible avenues inappropriate while cutting off possible avenues for participation.for participation.


Effects of the Blame and Effects of the Blame and Shame Approach:Shame Approach:

• Discourages assessing the actual or real Discourages assessing the actual or real source of problems and concernssource of problems and concerns

• Prevents smart resolutions of real Prevents smart resolutions of real concernsconcerns

• Brands victims for things they did not doBrands victims for things they did not do

• Encourages victims to accept blameEncourages victims to accept blame

• Results in competent persons feeling Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & worthlessignorant, insecure & worthless


What can you do to avoid What can you do to avoid these?these?

• Refuse to be complicit in domination actions.Refuse to be complicit in domination actions.• Recognize others fairly and equitably.Recognize others fairly and equitably.• Request respect and time for your Request respect and time for your

participation.participation.• Encourage others to recognize illogical and Encourage others to recognize illogical and

inefficient ’psychological warfare’ tactics.inefficient ’psychological warfare’ tactics.• Try to engage consistently in positive ways.Try to engage consistently in positive ways.

The EndThe End

Master Suppression Techniques

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