Humainologie creative dialogue on Dogmatism to be facilitated by Judy Johnson this coming Wednesday

“Dogmatism of all kinds--scientific, economic, moral, as well as political--are threatened by the creative freedom of the artist. This is necessarily and inevitably so. We cannot escape our anxiety over the fact that the artists together with creative persons of all sorts, are the possible destroyer of our nicely ordered systems.” - Rollo May, The Courage to Create

“For at least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols” – Aldous Huxley, Complete Essays, Vol. I, 1920-1925

I am very much looking forward to our creative dialogue this Wednesday March 17, with Judy Johnson facilitating on the topic of dogmatism. Judy has provided a brief biographical sketch and a tentative schedule for Wednesday, and those are included in the body of this email message. Appended below this message are 1) a brief introduction to her presentation with some good questions to get you thinking about your contributions to the dialogue; and 2) (very important!) her list of 13 features that are characteristic of dogmatism.

The Zoom link will be the same as last week, of course; I will circulate it again Tuesday or Wednesday before the dialogue.

Here is the brief biographical sketch she has provided:

Judy Johnson is a retired Professor Emerita in the Psychology Department, Mount Royal University. She has taught clinical psychology courses to students at Mount Royal University, Inmates in provincial and federal institutions, women on the Sarcee Reserve, and Palestinian students in Gaza, Israel, in the summers of 1990 and 1991 (during the Intifada). She is also an experienced psychotherapist, the author of a nonfiction and fiction book, and various publications on dogmatism. Her website is at: www.dogmatism.ca, where you can download a free copy of Chapter One from her novel, Thief of Reason.

Here is a tentative schedule for Wednesday, as provided by Judy:

6:30-6:40ish - Arthur welcomes group, housekeeping comments, and introduces Judy. (Brief intro attached)

6:40-7:10 - Judy presents features of dogmatism

7:10-7:30 - Zoom rooms

7:30-8:00 - Each group summarizes their discussion and asks one question that came up in the group (time frame is flexible)

8:00-8:30 - General comments and Q&A

Think like a bakery and make it fresh every day!

Arthur

Absolute Certainty in Uncertain Times: The Pernicious Impact of Dogmatism

Judy has submitted the following introduction for her talk, on March 17, 2021.

Charles Taylor, an eminent Canadian philosopher, claims that, “Understanding the ‘other’ will pose the 21st century’s greatest social challenge.” Although global racism, authoritarianism, terrorism, wild conspiracies theories, and groups like MAGA and the Proud Boys are serious impediments to Taylor’s challenge, a ubiquitous threat eclipses them all.

Dogmatism.

A deeply embedded personality trait that’s seldom mentioned but universally recognized, dogmatism combines cognitive, emotional, and behavioural features to personify rigid, closed-minded belief systems—beliefs dogmatic people pronounce with arrogant certainty. The trait applies to all institutionalized, cultural belief systems, e.g., politics, religion, science, education, marriage and the family. Dogmatism does not apply to strong opinions about a movie, book, or how to peel an avocado.

Although we can all be a little too definite about beliefs we cherish, dogmatic people have a pattern of at least six of its thirteen features, many of which you will recognize. Perhaps you’ve known friends or relatives who won’t change their minds and won’t change the subject, or business managers and coworkers who think they’ve nailed truth to the mat, or uncompromising partners you’ve loved and left. And while it’s one thing to have an obnoxious, dogmatic person in your private life, when the personality trait shows up in public institutions it affects us all.

Mild dogmatism is the harsh voice that proclaims, “I’m right; you’re wrong.” Moderate dogmatism is the arrogant voice that declares, “I’m right; you’re stupid.” Extreme dogmatism is the tyrant’s voice that rages, “I’m right; you’re dead!”

A bottleneck on freedom’s horn of plenty, pernicious dogmatism takes up residence in the minds of doctrinaire political and religious leaders, white supremacists who promote hatred and racism, economic ideologues who foster gross inequalities of wealth and opportunity, closed-minded scientists who reject man-made contributions to climate change, and irrational conspiracy theorists who deny the seriousness of Covid-19 (among other things.) These people have one thing in common—they all simplify the complex.

In this talk, I will suggest some psychological underpinnings for each of dogmatism’s 13 features (see attached chart), then ask you to discuss, in break-out groups, the following suggested questions:

 Have you changed your mind about a belief you thought was absolutely true in young adulthood?

 What happened that enabled you to change your mind?

 Select one of your most cherished beliefs. What would it take for you to change your mind about it?

 As a child, were you encouraged to think for yourself?

Please have someone from your group volunteer to summarize, in no more than 2 minutes, a key focus/concern that generated the liveliest discussion. We’ll hear your summary when we reconvene in the large group. A general Q&A will follow where you can ask the tough questions, the most difficult to answer, but often the best place to start.

I’m looking forward to thinking together about dogmatism, a trait I’ve been studying for thirty years and, as far as I can tell, isn’t going away anytime soon.

THE PERSONALITY TRAIT OF DOGMATISM

COGNITIVE FEATURES

1. Intolerance of Ambiguity

2. Defensive, Cognitive Closure

3. Rigid Certainty

4. Compartmentalization

5. Lack of Personal Insight

BEHAVIOURAL FEATURES

1. Preoccupation with Power and Status (as evidenced by behaviour)

2. Glorification of the In-group; Vilification of the Out-group

3. Dogmatic Authoritarian Aggression

4. Dogmatic Authoritarian Submission

5. Arrogant, Dismissive Communication

EMOTIONAL FEATURES

1. Belief-associated Anxiety and/or Fear

2. Belief-associated Anger

3. Existential Despair

Note: Dogmatism is a personality trait that combines cognitive, emotional and behavioural characteristics to personify prejudicial, closed-minded belief systems pronounced with arrogant, rigid certainty. Theoretically, six of thirteen features are necessary to determine trait presence: a minimum of three cognitive characteristics, two behaviour characteristics, and one belief-associated emotion.

Source: Judy J. Johnson (2021) Thief of Reason, Iguana Books, Toronto, ON.