JWs and Groupthink


I have noticed that I have a difficult time expressing my own opinion. When it comes to explaining what I believe, I shy away from using the phrase “I believe”. I think there are deep reasons for my hesitancy to express myself freely. Part of it is today’s society, part of it is the way I was raised.

Things are a bit scary in today’s world. There is a high danger of being shot down and shamed for speaking your truth. Whether your viewpoint is extreme, moderate, or conservative, there always seems to be people ready to point out how foolish your thoughts are. That naturally causes hesitancy because we want to be heard, not ridiculed when we express ourselves.

ExJWs have another hurdle to overcome when it comes to free expression. We just aren’t used to exposing who we are to people. We are used to having an organization dictate our beliefs. So, when explaining ourselves to outsiders, we probably used the phrase, “We believe…”. I don’t remember saying “I believe” very often when asked about what I thought as a JW. We were subjects of Groupthink.

"Groupthink" is a term we’re starting to hear more often. One definition seems to sum up the JW experience very well:

“The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility.”

Being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses means subscribing to a belief system that dictates everything you say and do. When asked what you believe, your brain translates that into “What do we believe?” We rarely considered our personal viewpoint on subjects.

The problem with being subject to Groupthink your entire life is that you never learn to think critically, formulate opinions, or have confidence in your own intellect. It is like having muscles that have never been exercised.  You know they exist but you have no strength in them or any idea how to use them properly.

I’ve had to start slowly in this area. I tend to say what I think about less risky subjects, like movies, sports, or other innocuous things. But, I notice my tendency to clam up when it comes to politics, philosophy, and even some religious subjects. I have very little confidence in expressing my views in areas like this, even though I know exactly where I stand in these areas.


I’m sure this hesitancy will lessen over time and with practice. Groupthink is a hard thing to overcome. Going along with organizational dictates is second nature to those of us that have spent our lives squashing our natural thinking abilities. It’s time to break out of the mold and become the person we’ve always wanted to be.

Comments

  1. Frances PetersMarch 12, 2020 at 6:38 AM

    👍Great piece Michael! I can totally relate to your hesitation to express your personal opinion and standpoints. Like you said, we had to think as a group, not as an individual.
    Great phrase: ”....we want to be heard, not ridiculed when we express ourselves.”
    You’ve spoken out and broke out of the mold 💪I hear you loud and clear 🤗 Frances


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