Cuckoo's Nest Conformity

One would be familiar with the phrase “great minds think alike” which is exclaimed upon the coincidence of two or more people sharing the same idea. Unbeknowingly, this condemns divergent thinking and individuality, whilst praising conformity. To think differently would imply that one is a below average human being; enforcing the acceptance and comfort of collective mental stasis. Those uncaring to the status quo are considered to be an individual; a hero of sorts by the collective. Media particularly in the twenty-first century, constructs the individual as a counterfeit hero in order to subdue the populace into conformity. The individual, as a result, no longer exists.

A hero is defined as one who is acknowledged for their outstanding attributes.

They are typically the ones who stand up for what’s right in a world that collectively turns away; the ones unafraid to be different. The individual of a conforming society. When the conforming man is in need of a hero, who does he turn to? The very thing he’ll waste an equivalent to nine years of his life focusing on: the media. The media chooses a once ordinary man, for instance, Steven Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.), and molds them into a counterfeit hero, presenting them as ideal individuals. Jobs was an ordinary man with an ordinary idea, which, with the assistance of the media, turned into a controlling multi-billion dollar corporation. Apple is now an empire, to which 77% of the population support. However, the success of both Jobs and Apple is built upon the backs of under-paid and over-worked Chinese workers, most of which children. Their support of "the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers," essentially the idea of the individual, has been long-forgotten upon their implementation of censorship, long-history of privacy invasion; manipulation and their instigated fear culture regarding free and open communication in their work-places. Is this not familiar to situations faced in dystopian fiction? A totalitarian leader which thrives upon fear culture, draining people of their money and time. Despite all this, he is collectively hailed as a hero- the media portrays him as a generous and creative corporate god, one who truly knows what it means to be an individual. The public forgets the exploitation and focuses on his ‘brilliance’ and ‘individuality.’ How is a man and a corporation that requires the conforming nature of billions of people to thrive, in anyway individualistic? Jobs is a counterfeit hero; a corporate god and dictator, masquerading his tactics as individuality and creativity, subduing the populace into conformity with the assistance of the media. Whilst a hero is acknowledged for his outstanding attributes; his individuality, a counterfeit hero is acknowledged for his elaborate facade.

Humans are inherently social creatures, unafraid to follow an individual if it proves beneficial to the collective.

Meaning, if an individual proves to have a fascinating or beneficial method, it is more than likely they will find large masses of followers- the paradoxical nature of the individual. One cannot be an individual without a collective, yet one cannot be an individual with a collective. People begin to think and behave in the same manner as the individual, a prime example of the chameleon effect; the nonconscious mimicry of one's interaction partners. Consider the character Randle McMurphy of the novel, One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, written by Ken Kessey. When McMurphy was first admitted to the Oregon psychiatric institute, his eccentric and individualistic ways were rejected by the Acutes; he was too full of life with his pranks and laughter, something completely absent from the lives of the Acutes and Chronics. “The first thing that got me about this place, that there wasn’t anybody laughing. I haven’t heard a real laugh since I came through that door,” (page__). Not only was McMurphy up against the residents, but he also strongly opposed the rigid and controlling methods of Nurse Ratched and the Combine; one of the most obvious examples of conformity in the novel. However, slowly as the novel progressed, it was clear that McMurphy was gaining in popularity as the Acutes accepted his individuality, deeming it more beneficial than the ways of the Combine. The power of the Combine lessened as the shared laughter between the members of the institute began; the ultimate symbol of rebellion against conformity, of individuality. “They laughed so hard about some of the things [McMurphy had] said to the nurse that the two Vegetables ... on the Chronics’ side grinned and snorted along with the laughter,” (page___). The Acutes and few Chronics began to mimic McMurphy's behaviours and attitudes, forming a collective which consciously chose to disobey Nurse

Ratched, and opt for individuality over conformity. McMurphy’s methods were considered, by the Acutes, to be beneficial to their own lives and thus, they formed a collective following of McMurphy. Ultimately, it proved to destroy both McMurphy and his individuality due to it’s paradoxical nature. This is the inherent psychology of the human being; to follow the individual most beneficial to their success.

The individual- in the occasion they rise to a hero status- is often short-lived due to exposure and shaming. After they have been used to their potential, the media and other significant parties find methods to kill the individual; either by breaking their spirit, or physically contributing to their death. Their exposure makes their followers vulnerable and insecure, allowing for their simple coercion into their original state of conformity, subduing them into a state of apprehension. Alan Turing, cryptanalysis and inventor of the ‘Turing Machine’- the original computer-like system designed to crack the German Enigma- was a historical victim of this. Turing was an individualistic man with a brilliant scientific mind, he used his intellectual capabilities to greatly assist the British in World War II, something they owe their gratitude to. Even though he was a remarkable man that many people followed and admired, he was exposed by the police force and brought to shame for having a sexual relationship with a man. He was publicly condemned for his sexuality despite his genius, completely destroying Turing when he committed suicide after years of chemical castration in 1954. Turing went from being publically praised, to being condemned and losing everything; caused by a time disapproving of an individual. This theme of betraying and destroying the individual is also popular in many dystopian science fiction novels, most notably, Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell.
“Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me” (page___). This quotation refers to both Winston Smith and Julia, two individuals completely rebelling against their dictator Big Brother, whom ultimately betray each other, as a result of the psychological manipulation underwent in Room 101. They confess each other's wrong-doings to The Party, in the hope of redemption and their own salvation. They begin the destruction of their individuality, further giving strength and power to The Party. As stated in the novel, “power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing,” (page____). The party thrives upon the destruction of individuality, of the reinforcement of conformity. Perhaps the most chilling line of the entire book is when Winston has been completely destroyed as an individual, when he becomes a conforming fool reciting the lie “two plus two equals five” (page___). This symbolising his complete surrender to Big Brother, his lost sense of individualism, intelligence resulting from own thought and the horrific fact that he now finds comfort and safety in conformity. Winston accepts Big Brother as his truthful leader, accepting everything he says to be the truth; a brainwashed conformist that “loved Big Brother” (page___). Individuals are beaten down through exploitation and shaming and are forced into non-existence.

Media has constructed the individual as a counterfeit hero used to subdue the population into conformity. Through the exploration of fiction and reality, it is clear that human beings have a predisposition for embracing conformity; for finding comfort in a state of collective mental stasis. When individuals do arise, they are swiftly destroyed by media and powerful parties, for divergence is considered a sin. It is the job of the media to shape the man, not the individual’s; perpetrating a life of submission and depleted intelligence. As George Orwell wrote, “You will be hollow. We shall squeeze you empty and then we shall fill you with ourselves.” The individual does not exist, which is something instilled in the minds of the very young to the very old. Great minds think alike? There is strength in ignorance? Very familiar phrases to the average human. But rest assured, if great minds think alike, then surely fools seldom differ.