Why don't people think for themselves?

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I posted this on yahoo answers:

After doing a few Internet searches, I've come to the conclusion that the answer is:
Thinking is hard, so you only do it if you absolutely have to. (I.e. there is a significant reward for doing so)

It's human nature, there have been many amusing, embarrassing and/or depressing studies to confirm this.

Tyazii, are you from the US?

We all start off immersed in the values of others. The very people providing you w/ food also serve up ideology. School smooths over any rough edges, these are the people who determine if you "pass" or not. By the time we all hit adolescence and start questioning the original authorities, we're immersed in the values of our peers the new authorities. "Fit in" or stay in your room alone. Penalties for independent thinking are steep. Then we hit the work force. Does this struggle w/ "society" ever end? Depends on your taste for disinclusion. I've had a strong taste for independent thought and the cost has been severe. I appreciate most people want to "fit in" and so they adopt the ruling ideologies of the rulers. It's not for me but, then again, I've been a total loser all my life, so be it. I'd rather have a PhD in weirdo than a GED in normal. But I'm tough and lots of people want, and deserve, a smoother ride.

The only way you start thinking differently is if you have certain experiences, such as being marginilized, which sets you loose from the conventional modes of thought (in a limited way). So don't think you're so different, really. You'd be just the same, under other circumstances.

I don't think everybody has the brain power or habit to think clearly. And if they've been brought up in certain cultures or situations (say very religious) they've been taught to not think much. I know some people who are very smart naturally try to think as little as possible as to not doubt their god. Thinking is fun and addictive. Once you start it's hard to stop. Sooner or later you'll cross the lines and become someone you didn't want to be. Freedom of the mind usually lead to changes, misunderstanding and isolation from family and friends. Of course it's hard for many of us to imagine that. I myself can't stop thinking even in my sleep.

Critical thinking is not encouraged. As such, people are not usually rewarded for it and therefore they learn that doing it results in them falling our of favor of the vast majority.

Even when you go to school, it's "memorize this and parrot it back using your own words". At home, it's "do what I say, because I am the adult". When you get a job, it's "Do what I say because I pay you". And you wonder why people do not think for themselves? Society provides powerful incentives *not* to think critically.

People are by nature social animals. They do what is required to not fall out of favor with others, and that includes succumbing to parroting beliefs they have given no critical thought to in order to please their chosen group. Back in the day staying with a group of people who accepted you was the difference between life and death. That biological urge to survive via creating successful social relationships is still very much a driving force in our species, and you are much more likely to be successful at that if you band together with others by agreeing with them.

The human mind is not a rational machine, it has serious flaws. See here:

http://bit.ly/dYaWUc

When people say "why don't people think for themselves", I want you to hear "Why can't everyone like doing advanced math?"

People are not equal in the ability to think about things clearly, science has discovered that even educated people just use their education to better defend their own misunderstandings because they are unable to see the flaws in their own thought process.

Seeing flaws in your own thinking is a HARD problem, if it was so easy we'd have world peace tomorrow. After all no rational person wants a war torn world filled with unnecessary suffering.

Thinking and learning is STRESSFUL, this is why many people hate school lets not forget - when we go to school there is a lot of work involved in 'thinking for oneself', i.e. learning about the world.

People tend to only want to learn what they are interested in and to a level that doesn't require much effort or stress. It's biologically demanding to think clearly and grow your own awareness of the world and few people have this ability.

I also think a lot of it has to do with people going along to get along. An example of this includes the celebration of Christmas and Easter. These two holidays are supposedly "Christian," and yet, even most atheists celebrate that (at least Christmas). Christmas was not widely celebrated in this country until well after the mid 1800's. "Santa Clause" was a green elf. In the P.S.A. today. Santa Claus is now big, fat, and wears a red coat. This is due to marketing by Coca-cola.
Even many Christians know the Pagan tradition behind Christmas and Easter, but do not discuss them or break off celebrating because that is what people "have always done." They don't want to "rock the boat either."

Another is the tradition of giving diamond engagement rings. This became popular last century simply because of the mass marking efforts of De Beers diamond cartel. A thinking person may be more inclined to want to give his fiance another gift such as a car or a cruise, but he is likely to think better of it, simply because it has now become customary to give diamonds, and that is what is expected.

Another thing, in American society, stupid is cool, and is also king. A thinking person is considered a spoiler or totally "un-fun." I believe that the same is true in Western Europe as well. I believe that there are more deep thinkers than we know, but most people keep their thought or questions to themselves. Most people rather engage in leisure rather than in work. Humans are also social beings and tend to do what most everyone else does, and for neurotypical people, generally speaking, it is near impossible for them to separate their thoughts from their emotions.

Is this supposed to be politic-related or just a general social thing?