| Human beings evolved into societies and civilizations by forming groups. In the process of group formation, a dominant individual or subgroup came to exercise leadership control over other subservient group members. Behavioural standards, values, beliefs and practices reflected the preferences of the dominant individual or elite subgroup. Other subservient group members were kept in line through the threat of violence, deprivation of beneifts and other negative stimuli. |
| As civilizations advanced, leaders and the elite instituted their preferred behavioural modes, values, beliefs and practices as societal norms. Through propaganda, violence and negative stimuli, these became widely accepted as national culture and societal norms which were common to all, correct, legitimate, orthodox and above question. The majority public thus ended up embracing the behavioural modes, values, beliefs and practices of the minority ruling elite as their own. |
| Thus, by homogenizing individual beliefs, values, beliefs and attitudes into a single set of shared norms and culture, the ruling elite managed to safeguard their self-interests by the above 'divide and rule' tactic. Within societies or nations, they could count upon the public pressure to suppress individual behaviour, beliefs, values, standards and practices which run contrary to societal norms and culture, and threaten their interests. This also allows the ruling elite to have exert fuller control over the population, faciliate implementation and supervision of projects at the national or societal level. Much administrative burden is lifted off the shoulders of the ruling elite as the ruled majority police themselves through public opinion and societal norms. |
| It is most ironic that the majority public actually believes it is safeguarding national, community or societal interests when they are actually manipulated by the minority ruling elite into defending the latter's interests by suppressing the growth and development of individuality which could have freed them from the control of and dependency on the ruling elite, and allow them to lead free lives. |