Final Essay 1

Griselda Mercado
English 250B

Diagnostic Rough Draft

January 20, 2012

Group minds

People are told that they should make their own decisions, and to think, and speak in any way they want, but sometimes what we don’t realize is how much we depend on the opinions of others’. Doris Lessing explains in her speech, “Group minds” that when we are in a group, be it family, friends etc. we tend to put our opinions aside if we don’t agree with the majority. We hop into a “band wagon” effect, where we follow others because of popularity or to be included, we want to be part of that group, and we feel that by doing as they do, we will be accepted. Lessing says that if the majority of the group believes in a particular way, the minority at times will fall in line, whether they agree on that opinion or not, they’ll probably input their ideas, but later say that they were wrong, if their opinions don’t coincide with the majority. She says that when we are in groups our own decisions are ignored, and we take in the opinions of the majority, something she calls the “group mind”, she also says we are not aware that we are following the group mind. This affects us, because we as individuals don’t fully speak our minds, we follow others’ opinions more than our own, when it should be the other way around. Lessing says that to get rid of the “Group mind”, we should all be educated into the horrors of it, and to acknowledge our mistakes and follow our hearts, and to forget the guilt that comes from following the group mind. I agree with her proposal to make people aware of the whole issue of the “group mind”, yet I don’t think that acknowledging our mistakes is enough to get rid of the issue.

Some of us know that what we do sometimes when we follow others isn’t always the best choice. It would be better for us to know how to follow our own hearts and take others’ considerations at times, not always. However, I think it is in human nature for people to change their opinions depending on others. Sometimes when that happens, it’s because we want to see the pros and cons of our decisions, we want other people’s intakes on the decision. For example, when choosing a college I have to admit that others opinions had an influence on my own. My parents were telling me to go to one college, while my friends were giving me benefits of going to a different college. It was hard to choose, because my parents would tell me one thing, and then my friends would tell me something that would contradict what my parents had said and vice versa. It felt as if I wasn’t in full control of my decision, I would change my mind every time I talked to my parents or my friends. I think that is the worst thing about the group mind, that people lose control of their own choices, and the choices they make aren’t fully their own.

Lessing says that there is much information out there that some of us are not aware of. She proposes that we include the general public in all the affairs happening today, I agree with this part of her proposal. My parents didn’t go to college so they didn’t know too much about universities, but what they did was they asked people, who had gone to college. The ones who went to college know what it’s like and they can advise others who didn’t. My parents didn’t know much about college, so it was difficult for them to advise me on what to do. They had to go out of their bubble to find out that information, it is hard for people to do that, and I find it hard myself. My example proves that there is knowledge out there that some of us aren’t aware of, and not only that, but it is also hard for those who don’t have that information to get it. As Lessing put it, “If I describe an experiment or two, then anyone listening who may be a sociologist or psychologist will groan, Oh no, not again---for they will have heard of these classic experiments far too often” She later says that for those who aren’t sociologists or psychologists her experiment was new information they probably haven’t heard of before. My point is that the general public is at times excluded from bigger issues, probably because they don’t know what’s going on or, because those who know aren’t going out and sharing their knowledge. The ones excluded have to go in search for those answers, while the ones who have them, keep them to themselves. I think it would be better if those who know would go out and include others in the bigger conversation.

Peer pressure can make kids do things they probably shouldn’t do. I think it is safe to say that all of us at one time in our life have done things we aren’t proud of because others were doing it, or we wanted to hang out with them. Later on in life they’ll remember those things they did and feel ashamed and remorseful. Lessing proposes that people let go of that shame and guilt, and learn from it; it already happened, they can’t change the past, but they can learn from it. I think people should let it go and change, and try to follow their own opinions, but I also think that doing that is harder than it seems. For example, the whole issue of slavery, first there was slavery, then segregation, and when segregation was illegal, there was still de-facto segregation, which was segregation by custom and tradition. People know that what they’re doing is wrong, but that doesn’t mean they’ll change from one day to another, it takes years, decades even. The majority has full control so things won’t magically change from one day to the next. Even though, we try to change things they won’t always be completely gone, things might get better, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be gone for good. I think that Lessing’s proposition is a good start, but I think the issue is more than just about the group mind, I think that for the issue to get solved the individual has to take that jump and avoid listening to the “group mind”.

I don’t think that her proposal of letting people know of the group mind is enough to eliminate the power some people have over others, because some issues have more relevance to some people than it does to others. For people to stop listening to other’s opinions and start focusing more on their own, it has to come from them, they have to take that step and start listening to their own minds. It is one thing to tell some one that what they’re doing is wrong, and a whole other thing for them to change it right away. It depends on how the person will react, some will completely agree and stop following other’s opinions and state their own, while others might understand it and not do anything about it, and the others, the majority, probably won’t realize that they’re inflicting their beliefs unto others. Lessing said that “When put as badly, as unflatteringly, as this, reactions tend to be incredulous: “I certainly wouldn’t give in, I speak my mind…” But would you?” She implies that people say that they wouldn’t give in, but when the time comes to go against the majority they’ll probably give in, and not state their own opinions. This proves my earlier point that it is easy for people to realize it, and accept that it is a problem, but it’s not as easy to make a change. The change comes from how they see the issue of their own opinions being mutilated by others, on how badly they think the issue is, some will be extremely angry, and others might just be displeased. The extremely angry ones, will dramatically stop listening to others influences, while the displeased ones might stop a few times, but won’t take that jump and ignore others opinions as willingly and as quickly.

People should be aware of the group mind having an effect on us, because it happens to everybody, and it doesn’t let people make their own decisions. It doesn’t allow people to speak their own minds. They get so caught up in the group that they forget about their own wants and desires, being selfless is a good thing, but there are times when you come first. Our future should only be chosen by us, not by anyone else. I admit that by introducing the issue of the group mind the issue won’t be completely eliminated, but it’s a start. Lessing has a good proposition, but we need to let the people make their own decision of following their own minds.