Self-censorship: Psychological Obstacles To The Transmission Of Information
Sometimes we choose not to disclose the information we have. We are silent without any barrier preventing us from speaking. We decide that it is better to be silent than to share information. Why ? This is all due to a psychological mechanism called self-censorship. Self-censorship is defined as the act of intentionally and intentionally withholding information from others in the absence of formal obstacles.
When you think that disclosing information comes at a high cost, chances are you are not sharing it. Self-censorship of information can maintain coexistence in a society and help prevent harm. However, self-censorship can generate distress, guilt and shame, in addition to preventing the free flow of information. Therefore, self-censorship can also drive society into ignorance, impoverish public debate and contribute to moral decline.
Free access to information
Free access to information increases the value of freedom of expression and critical thinking. In addition, this open access allows for more deliberate, more open and freer discussions. It also ensures the transparency of the system and increases the scope of public discussions.
All of this enables leaders and members of society to make more balanced and well-reasoned decisions on social issues, thus preventing moral transgressions. Thus, free access to information allows a dynamic exchange of opinions and facilitates the development of tolerance.
However, in any society there is a tension between the free flow of information and its restriction. In this sense, we believe that an unbridled flow of information can harm a society.
In fact, even the most liberal, democratic and enlightened states find it necessary to suppress at least part of the information and opinions. But limiting access to information is not only found in laws, rules and formal mechanisms. But also in individuals as collective members who impose self-censorship.
The components of self-censorship
Self-censorship requires the actor to have undisclosed information. When we talk about information, we ignore opinions. Information, unlike opinions, must be truthful. This is something that actually happened and is taken to be verified and validated without relying on personal opinions. The content of the information can be varied, with topics ranging from negative to positive.
The act of censorship indicates that the individual intentionally and willfully rejects (does not share) this information despite the fact that there are no formal barriers, such as external censorship, that prevent them from sharing it.
In other words, people voluntarily choose not to share information with no other type of restriction preventing them from disclosing it. This behavior implies that individuals informally control and regulate the flow of information or, in other words, hamper the free access to information, the freedom of expression and the free flow of information.
The psychological bases of self-censorship
Self-censorship has at least three established foundations in psychology:
First, human beings tend to share, communicate and disseminate information. Members of a given group have a psychological and social interest in sharing information. Therefore, for there to be self-censorship, there must be some other reason to oppose it.
Second, people, as members of a group, care. This means that we will try to maintain a positive image of our group and avoid information that has negative implications on the image of our group.
Finally, a person who is aware of having new information which is relevant and which has not been revealed will be faced with a dilemma. This dilemma will arise when this information can cause harm by being revealed because it violates a norm, dogma, ideology or value.
The level of the dilemma can vary from person to person and depends on the type of information, context or other factors. But a person still faces a minimal dilemma when practicing self-censorship.
Contributing factors
Four factors contribute to self-censorship. These are the group context, individual factors, type of information and circumstantial factors. The importance of the collective context is that it dictates the needs and goals of members of society. And the challenges they face to reach them.
It also offers opportunities and limits, stimuli and inhibitions, as well as spaces and limits for human behavior. In terms of individual factors, personality traits, worldviews, values, ideologies, emotions, attitudes and motivations will influence self-censorship.
Regarding the type of information, the factors that will influence self-censorship are: the severity of the information, the relevance to the present, the type of act that involves the information, the objects of the information and issues raised by information.
Likewise, the circumstantial factors related to the collection of information, the number of people who have knowledge of it, the time elapsed since the information was obtained and the characteristics of the audience to which the information should be communicated (identity , role, state, etc.) will influence self-censorship.
In this context, the person calculates the subjective costs and benefits of each decision. Then face the dilemma that arises in resolving the dissonance. The outcome of these subjective personal considerations determines whether an individual will disclose information, to whom, in whole or in part, or engage in self-censorship.
Our thoughts Freedom is the most precious treasure of the human being.
