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 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 people in opposition by ignoring them.

Examples:

  • Another speaker takes something you have said as if it were their idea, or starts speaking despite it being your turn.
  • As it is your turn to speak, the other attendees start to talk to each other, browse through their papers, etc.

Ridicule
See also: Appeal to ridicule

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

Example

  • When making an accusation of wrongdoing against someone, you are being told that you look cute when you're angry.

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:

  • Your colleagues have a meeting that concerns you, without inviting you.
  • 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

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

Examples:

  • When you do your work tasks thoroughly, you receive complaints for being too slow. When you do them efficiently, you're critiqued for being sloppy.

Heap blame/put to shame

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

Example:

  • You inform your manager that you are being slandered, but are told it is your fault since you dress provocatively.

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:

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

Later additions by Camilla Ländin

Camilla Ländin, a swedish author, has after extensive research added even more supplementary master suppression techniques.[6]

  • Psychological projection. "Should you say" instead of taking responsibility.
  • Compliments. "You who are so good" in order to avoid the effort.
  • Hierarchies. "I'm the one who decides" or "I'm so insignificant".
  • Time. That something is new is the only argument for or that something is dissected because it is old.
  • Stereotyping. Reduce an individual to be representative of their gender or age or something.
  • Victim playing, acting like a victim in order to gain benefits
  • The diminishing. A form of reduction by breaking the one who tells.

Countermeasures against master suppression techniques

A group of PhD students at Stockholm University[7] 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.[8]

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. https://www.nyteknik.se/ingenjorskarriar/karriar/se-upp-har-ar-de-nya-harskarteknikerna-6395467
  7. ENSU, Empowerment-Nätverket vid Stockholms Universitet (2004) ”Bekräftartekniker och motstrategier - sätt att bemöta maktstrukturer och förändra sociala klimat.”, 2010-07-01
  8. Domination techniques: what they are and how to combat them
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