--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon…" description: "\"“It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon common in governments, business organizations, and political parties; a culture of conformity that discourages ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg" --- # It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon common in… ![“It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon common in governments, business organizations, and political parties; a culture of conformity that discourages independent thinking and disagreement. Anyone who challenges the consensus of the greater body, regardless of how valid that challenge might be, is…” quote by James N. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg) > ““It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon common in governments, business organizations, and political parties; a culture of conformity that discourages independent thinking and disagreement. Anyone who challenges the consensus of the greater body, regardless of how valid that challenge might be, is considered disloyal. This produces deviant outcomes. People thinking they are always right, everyone else is wrong, and their logic is unassailable, no matter how divorced from reality it might be.”” James N. Cook ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conformity suppresses independent thought, leading to deviant outcomes. **In simple terms:** Blind conformity breeds poor results. Key Takeaway Encourage critical dissent. Themes conformity independence culture politics Mood critical analytical concerned Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - organizational training - policy critique - public debate Key Concepts sociology psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you questioned a majority view? - What safeguards protect dissenters? A Different Perspective Challenging consensus can be socially risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-organization/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Independent thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-thinking/) [Political parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-parties/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Search and you will find that at the base and birth of every great business organization was an enthusiast, man consumed with earnestness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/search-and-you-will-find-that-at-the-base-and-birth-of-every-great/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“All the present bureaucracies of political governments, great religious organizations, and all big businesses find that physical success for all humanity would be devastating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-buckminster-fuller/all-the-present-bureaucracies-of-political-governments-great/) [Richard Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-buckminster-fuller/) > [You don't need a title. You don't need a degree in business organization or be trained in the finer arts of persuasion. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/you-don-t-need-a-title-you-don-t-need-a-degree-in-business/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [The things we fear most in organizations - fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances - are the primary sources of creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/the-things-we-fear-most-in-organizations-fluctuations-disturbances/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [Unfortunately, to succeed in business, organizations need to make difficult choices all the time-what to do and, more important, what not to do. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantinos-c-markides/unfortunately-to-succeed-in-business-organizations-need-to-make/) [Constantinos C. Markides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantinos-c-markides/) > [Brandon McCaw got a 95% on a business organization test. He wins 50,000,000,000 business statements out of that deal on 6/14/08. Go to his website on skullz$$$.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccaw/brandon-mccaw-got-a-95-on-a-business-organization-test-he-wins-50-000/) [Brandon McCaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccaw/) > [The important thing is this: that, under such government recognition as we may give to that which is beneficent and wholesome in large business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-important-thing-is-this-that-under-such-government-recognition-as/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Brandon McCaw got a 150% grade on a Business Organization 500 question test at the best college in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccaw/brandon-mccaw-got-a-150-grade-on-a-business-organization-500-question/) [Brandon Mccaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccaw/) > [For individuals, character is destiny. For organizations, culture is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/for-individuals-character-is-destiny-for-organizations-culture-is/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [The primary asset of any business is its organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/the-primary-asset-of-any-business-is-its-organization/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Enthusiasm is the parent of enterprise. Search and you will find that at the base and birth of every great business organization was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/enthusiasm-is-the-parent-of-enterprise-search-and-you-will-find-that/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“Don’t tread on me I’m not quite clear about how to formulate this question. It has to do with the nature of US society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/don-t-tread-on-me-i-m-not-quite-clear-about-how-to-formulate-this/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Winning is an approach to life. The place it starts is not on the playing field or in the business organization; nor is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/winning-is-an-approach-to-life-the-place-it-starts-is-not-on-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Man is constantly being assured that he has more power than ever before in history, but his daily experience is one of powerlessness. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/man-is-constantly-being-assured-that-he-has-more-power-than-ever/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [“Bulk Email Sender Software - An Effective Means of Online Marketing With the continuous advancement of internet technology nowadays, the interest of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/powermta-expert/bulk-email-sender-software-an-effective-means-of-online-marketing/) Powermta Expert ## More by James N. Cook > [“Depression is an emotion for which I have not the time, nor the inclination, to expend my mental resources,” I say flatly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/depression-is-an-emotion-for-which-i-have-not-the-time-nor-the/) James N. Cook > [“Victory and glory are all well and good until the blood on your hands belongs to you or someone that you care about. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/victory-and-glory-are-all-well-and-good-until-the-blood-on-your-hands/) James N. Cook > [“Depression is an emotion for which I have not the time, nor the inclination, to expend my mental resources,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/depression-is-an-emotion-for-which-i-have-not-the-time-nor-the-2/) James N. Cook Explore all 4 James N. Cook quotes ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon common in governments, business organizations, and political parties; a culture of conformity that discourages independent thinking and disagreement. Anyone who challenges the consensus of the greater body, regardless of how valid that challenge might be, is considered disloyal. This produces deviant outcomes. People thinking they are always right, everyone else is wrong, and their logic is unassailable, no matter how divorced from reality it might be.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James N. Cook" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-common-in-governments-business/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-common-in-governments-business/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/james-n-cook-69562_business_it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-co_2806583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon common in governments, business organizations, and political parties…” — James N. Cook", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James N. Cook", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-cook/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is. It’s a psychological phenomenon...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-common-in-governments-business/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-cook/it-is-it-s-a-psychological-phenomenon-common-in-governments-business/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```