There are different methods of wanting to be right. These methods can focus on simplifying a problem, telling sad stories, raising conspiracy theories or based on dogma. If techniques of repetition and raising the voice are applied, there is a good chance that people will be right. The more often a position is repeated, with a raised voice underscoring it, the more chance there is that the other person will accept it as true. Wanting to be right can be based on frustration, envy and insecurity.
Techniques and methods to be right
Repetition and raising your voice are techniques used to prove yourself right. If they are linked to methods of simplifying problems, telling moving stories, raising conspiracy theories and reasoning from dogmas, the chance of being proven right is increased. Religious and political leaders, managers, sports coaches, teachers, educators, etc. consciously or unconsciously use these techniques and methods. Frustration, envy, fear and insecurity can be the basis of behavior where people want to be right.
Definition
What do the concepts of wanting to be right, repeating and raising your voice mean? An explanation.
Wanting to be right
Wanting to be right is a natural human programming to gain power. Deviation from positions taken is seen as weakness which is bad for the image. 1 According to the German philosopher Shopenhauer, it also has to do with vanity. 2
To repeat
Repetition is a powerful technique to convince people. Especially if an emotional charge is added that ties in with what makes people anxious or what they would like to hear, data, whether fictional or not, is quickly accepted as true.
,If you tell a lie once it’s a lie, if it’s repeated 1,000 times it’s the truth., 3
Raised voice
Raising your voice can be used to get attention and/or to prove you are right. If the intention is to impress your truth on the other person, it is an aggressive form of communication. It must be distinguished from clearly intelligible and clearly formulated.
Coherence
People who want to be right and don’t get it can engage in a power struggle . They will come up with all kinds of arguments as to why their opinion is the right one. They repeat their position with or without the same or different arguments. These arguments can be made up on the spot or facts can be twisted in such a way that they are presented as proven facts. By using an aggressive form of raising their voices, they try to create a situation in the other person so that they (seem to) accept their truths. This can arouse fear , but also the promise of a better future. They can use a number of methods that can lead to success.
Repetition and raising your voice therefore appear to be useful techniques that are used when trying to be right. They are often linked to a method that reinforces the desire to be right.
Methods that can be applied to be right
Commonly used methods to be right: 4
- simplification of the problem
- focusing on a moving human story
- making up conspiracy theories
- creating a dogma, relying on an omniscient theory, institution or boss and blindly following it. E.g. Religious and ideological dogmas. They provide a safe haven in a complex world.
Application of the above points can occur in all kinds of areas: with politicians, religious leaders, managers and with ordinary citizens during conversations in cafes, at birthdays or during a chat on the street.
Examples of elaborations
- Complicated issues such as immigrants with economic or political motives are lumped together by saying: “The Netherlands is full, so don’t let anyone in, let them solve their own problems.”
- The focus is on children of immigrants who have been in our country illegally for years. If these children are made visible, moving, pathetic stories can be told. This convinces people not to send these children back to their country of origin.
- People may develop the idea that others are trying to take their jobs away. This may be based on interpretations of how colleagues visit each other during breaks. It is interpreted as a conspiracy.
- Orthodox religious leaders, but also politicians, sign a document (Nashville Declaration) in which LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) are seen as sexual forms that are not in accordance with what the Bible prescribes. 5 These are religious people who rely heavily on the Bible texts.
If a different position is presented, people using the above methods can respond by repeating their position several times and increasing their voice. The argument is usually no different than the first time. If everyone keeps repeating their position, such a ‘conversation’ can easily escalate into an argument.
If these methods do not work, other means can be used. This can vary from verbal threats to even physical threats and violence.
Some reasons for wanting to be right
Some reasons for wanting to be right are: frustration, wanting something and uncertainty (fear).
Frustration based on envy
The other person has something that he would also like to have. He expresses this by claiming the opposite.
Gosh, I wouldn’t want what you’re going to do now because of that., The other explains why he wants it. The first repeats it again, often without argument, raising his voice: Nothing for me, doesn’t seem like anything to me. There can be such a endless back and forth talk arises, which can lead to irritation and aggression.
Would like something
This group wants something to happen that makes them happy. It could be a small event that he/she would like to share. But this sharing happens in a way that feels inauthentic.
Father: My daughter already has an admirer again. She can get a lot. Actually, it turns out she’s never had anyone before. This is repeated two or three times in a loud voice. The other responds with: Nice. That’s not enough for father. He repeats it now, raising his voice strongly.
Insecurity
People who do not feel confident and are therefore anxious may persist in their position. If they leave this, insecurity increases because they are in danger of losing their faith in something that gives them strength.
Teacher: Every war has an economic cause. Student: There have also been religious wars where there was no economic basis. Teacher, uncertain, raising her voice: These also had an economic cause. The student gives examples after which the teacher repeats the same arguments and increasingly raises his or her voice.
Note: All examples shown are based on actual events.