1. Master Suppression Techniques by Berit Ås, Oslo, Norway as published by St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, Philippines (1999) Powerpoint presentation by June Edvenson, Edvenson Consulting (2009) for use in Business Communication in English: Presentations & Negotiations, BI – Norwegian School of Management Note: Content is modified to enhance suitability for presentation to a broad student audience.

2. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. ”A master suppression technique is: the tool a person uses to exercise power over someone else.” Examples include: Using language differently Using language differently Using different words Using different words Constructing sentences differently Constructing sentences differently Discussing different matters Discussing different matters Conversing by different timing rules Conversing by different timing rules

3. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Some examples of cultural aspects Party A Influential Influential Earning more money Earning more money Actively involved Actively involved Time managers Time managers Planners Planners Dominant doers Dominant doers Ensuring power position Ensuring power position Party B Subject to influence Subject to influence Earning less money Earning less money Passively involved Passively involved Time slaves Time slaves Followers Followers Supportive doers Supportive doers Unable to assure power position Unable to assure power position

4. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Technique number 1: Making Invisible Occurs when a person (or group) chooses to treat an individual (or group) as if they were not there. Occurs when a person (or group) chooses to treat an individual (or group) as if they were not there. Examples: Examples: –A person presents and no one comments. –A person comments and no one responds. –A group/person raise their hands, but the instructor never calls on them. –A company presents an offer the other party pretends they did not hear or receive. –Paraverbal behavior that signals invisibility of others

5. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Effect of Making Another Invisible: Robs individuals and groups of their identity. Robs individuals and groups of their identity. Engenders feelings of inferiority and insignificance. Engenders feelings of inferiority and insignificance. Encourages passive acceptance of prejudice. Encourages passive acceptance of prejudice. Results in institutional rigidity. Results in institutional rigidity. Contributes to conformity – ’go-along to get- along.’ Contributes to conformity – ’go-along to get- along.’

6. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Technique number 2: Ridiculing Occurs when one’s efforts are scorned, made fun of, presented as over-emotional or inappropriate. Can also occur when another is rejected as cold, manipulative, incompetent. Occurs when one’s efforts are scorned, made fun of, presented as over-emotional or inappropriate. Can also occur when another is rejected as cold, manipulative, incompetent. Examples: Examples: –A person tells others that his partner is sloppy when both share the responsibility for an error. –A boss suggests his employees are naive or stupid. –Advertisers use pornography that ridicules a specific type of person or group in order to sell their products.

7. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Effects of Ridiculing Others: Laughter Laughter Satisfaction Satisfaction Domination Domination Control Control Embarrassment Embarrassment Insecurity Insecurity Anger Anger Boredom Boredom Waning interest Waning interest Lack of self-esteem Lack of self-esteem

8. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Technique number 3: Withholding Information Occurs when one automatically takes up matters only with those of a select group. Involves preventing others from participating in comment and decisionmaking. Occurs when one automatically takes up matters only with those of a select group. Involves preventing others from participating in comment and decisionmaking. Examples: Examples: –A person gets agreements from a company Board by not sharing the information with specific interested parties. –A group meets socially, but conducts business affecting another related group or individual.

9. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Effect of Withholding Information: Hurts information sharing for all – gaps in our knowledge Hurts information sharing for all – gaps in our knowledge Encourages ’anti-social’ socializing Encourages ’anti-social’ socializing Fosters discrimination on illegal bases Fosters discrimination on illegal bases Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & dis-connected Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & dis-connected

10. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Technique number 4: the ’Can’t-Win’ approach ”Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” ”Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Occurs when it is wrong one does something and also wrong not to choose the same thing. Involves being squeezed and pressured between mutually exclusive choices. Occurs when it is wrong one does something and also wrong not to choose the same thing. Involves being squeezed and pressured between mutually exclusive choices. Examples: Examples: –A person wants to make the family happy, and commits to an activity. Their job then requires they commit to another activity that conflicts with the family’s plans. –A manager is accused of being weak when cooperative, yet also bullish when assertive.

11. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Effects of the ’Can’t Win’ Approach: Discourages developing various interests, concerns, attachments Discourages developing various interests, concerns, attachments Results in constant guilty conscience Results in constant guilty conscience Creates stress from criticism -from both sides Creates stress from criticism -from both sides Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & dis-connected Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & dis-connected Feelings of inadequacy, loss & burn-out Feelings of inadequacy, loss & burn-out

12. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Technique number 5: Heap Blame & Put to Shame Occurs when one is made to feel ’not good enough,’ even when that is due to (1) different behaviors, class, group, or (2) lack of access to information controlled by others. Occurs when one is made to feel ’not good enough,’ even when that is due to (1) different behaviors, class, group, or (2) lack of access to information controlled by others. Examples: Examples: –Encourages those ridiculed to ’accept’ their lowered status by shaming them directly or in front of others. –Suggests that signs of participatory behavior are inappropriate while cutting off possible avenues for participation.

13. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. Effects of the Blame and Shame Approach: Discourages assessing the actual or real source of problems and concerns Discourages assessing the actual or real source of problems and concerns Prevents smart resolutions of real concerns Prevents smart resolutions of real concerns Brands victims for things they did not do Brands victims for things they did not do Encourages victims to accept blame Encourages victims to accept blame Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & worthless Results in competent persons feeling ignorant, insecure & worthless

14. Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009. What can you do to avoid these? Refuse to be complicit in domination actions. Refuse to be complicit in domination actions. Recognize others fairly and equitably. Recognize others fairly and equitably. Request respect and time for your participation. Request respect and time for your participation. Encourage others to recognize illogical and inefficient ’psychological warfare’ tactics. Encourage others to recognize illogical and inefficient ’psychological warfare’ tactics. Try to engage consistently in positive ways. Try to engage consistently in positive ways. The End