No Band of Brothers

Terrorism is mainly caused by group pressure. Group dynamics can influence a person more than religious or ideological convictions alone. Both military units and terrorist organisations use group pressure to get individuals to do things they never would have done alone. Members of defence groups should be very aware of how group dynamics can effect them. The Milgram experiment showed that ordinary human beings can inflict pain that amounts to torture if authorities tell them to. Another experiment proved that many individuals will adapt to what a group says is right even when they themselves don’t believe it at all. These experiments unfortunately show that a majority of people actually behave almost as sheep. It’s scary and very disappointing that so many are willing to more or less blindly follow the orders of authorities.

Activists should not succumb to group pressure. Just walk away if your friends tell you to commit acts you think is wrong. Activists should act as individuals. Join our discussion forum if you need advice about how to get out of groups you want to leave.

You might think that members of a given group are very strong, very intelligent and very brave, and that is fine, but all participants of a tight group, a brotherhood, have one weak spot. They don’t have the courage or ability to withstand group dynamics. They are hypnotised by the feeling of loyalty to the group, by camaraderie. They want to belong to a “family”, to have brothers and sisters in arms. They might appear as though guys, but deep down they are afraid. One almost feels sorry for them.

Don’t join a militant organisation if you are incapable of standing alone.