Consider prejudice.
Once a person begins to accept a stereotype of a particular group, that “thought” becomes an active agent, “participating” in shaping how he or she interacts with another person who falls in that stereotyped class.
In turn, the tone of their interaction influences the other person’s behaviour.
The prejudiced person can’t see how his prejudice shapes what he “sees” and how he acts.
In some sense, if he did, he would no longer be prejudiced.
To operate, the “thought” of prejudice must remain hidden to its holder.
Credit: Peter Senge
Source: The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge (2006)
(From the chapter on Team Learning.)Image Credits: Pixabay
(Pixabay)Join one of my upcoming Knowledge Cafés or workshops and explore Conversational Leadership in practice.
Engage in thoughtful conversation, challenge assumptions, and connect with others working in knowledge, leadership, and organisational change.