Song o' the Post: "Sheep" by Pink Floyd
"...meek and obedient you follow the leader..."
Our look at Lessing's work has triggered my interest in group dynamics and group functions. In particular, I found our class discussion concerning the fact that people who leave a group are hated more than people who oppose the group. As a religious studies major, my first real religion class was all about the study of "new emergent religious movements" or, more commonly called, cults. And this fact was a prominent point of discussion for the class.
Because people fear the ostracism they would inevitably face for dissenting from the group, many people succumb to the pressure and don't voice their opinions. This gives the leader total power and a willing, obedient group. And from this arises mob mentality. People just more or less "go with the flow" of the group.
A lack of dissension creates a powerful group; a group that can do whatever it wants. And this is how mass trauma occurs. This is why one group will war against another. This is how one group can eliminate an entire race.
People like to imagine they would stay true to themselves and their ideals, no matter what. Despite the intimidation, the pressure, the group's opposing views. But if placed in such a situation, would you really be the lone voice of dissent?
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