The document discusses five master suppression techniques used to exercise power over others: 1) Making others invisible by ignoring their comments or presence, 2) Ridiculing others' efforts to embarrass or assert dominance, 3) Withholding information to prevent others from participating, 4) Using a "can't-win" approach to create conflicting obligations that result in criticism, and 5) Heaping blame and shame on victims to lower their status. The techniques rob individuals of their identity and encourage feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and lack of self-esteem. To avoid these techniques, one should refuse complicity in domination, recognize others fairly, request respectful participation, and engage positively.

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

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

4. Technique number 1:
Making Invisible
• Occurs when a person (or group) chooses to
treat an individual (or group) as if they were not
there.
• 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
Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009.

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

6. 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.
• 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.
Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009.

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

8. 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.
• 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.
Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009.

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

10. Technique number 4:
the ’Can’t-Win’ approach
• ”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.
• 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.
Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009.

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

12. 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.
• 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.
Content by Berit Ås, 1999. -Edvenson Consulting, 2009.

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

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