"It is very impossible...to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind."-James Baldwin

What is groupthink (e.g., cult mentality)? Groupthink is not having the ability to think for yourself. You have to think like everyone else. You have to do things the same way they do; you are not smart enough if you do not. To be part of the group, you must do everything they do to fit in. There is no room for originality (no room to challenge the status quo). If everyone makes a left turn, everyone is expected to make a left turn. You are inconvenienced if you drive too far or too much; you must stick to the plan. Otherwise, they will exclude you.

What does being your own person mean? It means standing your ground. It means doing things that feel right to you. It means being authentic. It means not compromising your well-being for the sake of appeasing others. You trust your decisions. Sometimes, you will make a good decision; other times, you will not. If you stand for something you strongly believe in, you win. However, you lose if you fail because you stood for something you did not believe in to appease the crowd.

Could you be forced to be in a position without asking to be in it? You cannot make an educated decision if you do not know what you are deciding on. You must be your own person. It is irresponsible to be placed in a situation where you do not have a say and your life depends on it. One's value (life) should not rely on whether or not one participates in groupthink. One should have the ability to think independently.

Can you be forced to decide without being fully informed? Ideally, you will be able to make your own decisions (autonomy); however, this does not always happen. Sometimes, you are forced into situations without your consent. Some may say stand up for yourself, but the reality is that it is not that easy to do so when there are persons in power controlling the narrative (labeling an independent thinker as mentally unstable). That is the most inhumane thing to do to a person. You should not be forced to do things you have not consented to, but this does not always happen. During such times, stand your ground. Be authentic.

Thank you for making us a part of the community.

-Proteawell