We live in dogmatic times. Judy Johnson defines dogmatism as "a trait that drives people to adopt polarized, hardened belief systems, dogmatism manifests in conspiracies theories, gross inequalities of wealth and opportunity, and widespread racism. It has a role to play in climate change and even pandemics."
She writes that dogmatism has several characteristics:
Five features are cognitive characteristics. The first is intolerance of ambiguity — a key feature Stanley Budnar defined as, “the tendency to perceive ambiguous situations as sources of threat.” Second is a defensive cognitive closure, in which conflicting ideas are immediately judged as ridiculous. Third is a rigid certainty that protects dogmatists from having to open their minds to the possibility they’re wrong, and the fourth, compartmentalization, partitions contradictory beliefs in isolated cognitive chambers with no connecting corridors. The final cognitive characteristic is a lack of personal insight that reflects dogmatic people’s inability to distance themselves far enough from their core beliefs to recognize their own dogmatism.
Besides its cognitive characteristics, dogmatism is marked by five behavioral features:
One is a preoccupation with power and status, which often creates stereotypes that remove ambiguity. The next is glorification of the in-group and vilification of the out-group, as seen in ethnocentric hero worship, prejudice and discrimination. Third is arrogant, dismissive communication that dismisses the person, not the idea.
Such ad hominem attacks are typical of the fourth behavioural feature, namely dogmatic authoritarian aggression. This is characteristic of leaders who divide people into warring camps around the world. Bob Altemeyer notes that such leaders demand absolute respect, unwavering loyalty and obedience to arbitrary rules, which they enforce without mercy. Commenting on the increasing prevalence of authoritarianism, Anne Applebaum states that charismatic, authoritarian political leaders create national chaos by stoking fear in the vulnerable, lambasting mainstream media for spewing fake news, appointing sycophants to powerful positions in the justice system and repeating vicious lies to brainwash the vulnerable.
Obviously, there are lots of examples of this behaviour. And the dangers of this behavior are equally obvious. Something to think about as we enter the new year.
Image: Dogmamoncton.com
