Master suppression techniques

Master suppression techniques are defined as strategies of social manipulation by which a dominant group maintains such a position in an (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. Master suppression techniques are sometimes called domination techniques.

The five master suppression techniques according to Ås

Making invisible

Silencing or otherwise marginalizing people in opposition by ignoring them.

Examples:

• A speaker claims ownership of an idea belonging to an opponent.
• When it is the opponent's turn to speak, other attendees start to talk to each other or browse through their papers to undermine what the opponent is saying.

Ridicule

Portraying the arguments of an opponent, or the opponents themselves, in a ridiculing fashion.

Example:

• Telling an opponent that they look cute when they are angry while they are trying to make an accusation of wrongdoing against someone.

Withholding information

Excluding 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:

• Not including someone in a meeting about a matter that concerns them.
• 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

Punishing, blaming or otherwise belittling the actions of an opponent, regardless of how they act.

Example:

• Despite doing tasks thoroughly, the opponent receives complaints for being too slow. When tasks are done efficiently, the opponent receives complaints of being sloppy.

Heaping blame/putting to shame

Embarrassing someone or insinuating that they themselves are to blame for their position.

Example:

• When raising concerns about being slandered, the opponent is told that it is their fault since they (for example) dress provocatively.