When one hears the term “grooming” the first thought is the action of pedophiles and molesters. The intent is to endear the victim to the perpetrator.
When an adult engages in grooming behavior it is the intent to align the audience with the primary. There are many examples of this behavior throughout our history.
Grooming is something that happens over time. It recalls the adage “How do you cook a frog?” Place the frog in a pot of cold water and let it heat to boil. The frog is comfortable, unaware of the danger of remaining in the pot.
Grooming is exactly like cooking a frog, slow and subtle. The ideal target is the one who are outcast. Loners, abused, and very young.
From birth a parent begins the behavior of grooming. The intent is to imprint the child with the parents’ desires for behavior. While children learn how to practice this behavior on the adults and other children.
A Definition of Grooming
The dictionary definition includes this:
“The practice of preparing or training someone for a particular purpose or activity.”
That is a basic definition of grooming. It is always used to exploit a goal set by the person to meet his/her end.
Consider the different forms of grooming, sweet talk, compliments, adoration, and gifts. Showering another human being with loving attention endears them.
Grooming has a positive and negative aspect, depending on the intent.
Positives and Negatives of Grooming
The positive goals of grooming will enhance one’s life. The opposite is the negative, allowing one to fall prey.
Take time to reflect on your lifestyle. Examples of grooming may reveal themselves. You will find instances where you have strategically crafted your presentation or influenced others’ perceptions to achieve your goals.
These instances provide you with authority, utilizing a positive or negative influence. Both affect a change.
Authority Grooming
Authority grooming is the basis of the current life we live. Used frequently to modify a group or community behavior. In the last few years, it has become one of several methods of coercion to meet an end goal. One can only speculate as the primary purpose for coercion.
With research into grooming, several items become apparent. One primary example is childhood sexual grooming. Then as you scroll through the various articles, you find those about pet grooming. Childhood sexual grooming is not the only serious issue today.
Those in authority use grooming to gain their end. Depending on the goal, a variety of tactics are used.
Types of Grooming
There are many ways to groom an individual to provide the desired response. Depending on the response, techniques will vary.
Fear is one form of grooming. We see examples of this throughout our life span. Legal, religious, parenting, intimate relationships, and employment.
The intent is to terrify one into believing a loss or punishment will occur. In extremes harsher consequences to the extreme of death.
Charm is another form of grooming, providing attention, affection, gifts, and other praise. Those who create the greatest following use this charm to win over their followers. Charisma is a strong tool to persuade and align others to a cause.
The intent in this case is to align like-minded individuals seeking a place to belong to, a cause to champion. Charismatic leaders know what to say and when to say it to make the greatest impact.
Can you identify other ways grooming occurs in our world?
What if?
What if we could balance the truth of positive and negative? What if we could find that middle ground? Accepting the truth that there are both sides to every issue, desire, and need.
Authority decides on a path that fits “its” needs, not that of the population it serves. Influencers carry believability to the message. The grooming of a nation occurs on a great scale. Early in life we learn the importance of status, title and follow those influences.
What if we learned to question those in authority? Ask the hard questions and demand a clear answer. Are you willing to ask the hard questions? Are you willing to question authority?
Grooming takes away our free will.
A Personal Narrative
It is human nature to find that which aligns with personal narrative. When we decide on a belief, it is within our realm to align information that supports it. We search for those who will support our narrative.
It is also human nature to denigrate that which does not align with those beliefs. If information comes along that challenges that belief, it is discounted. Wars are built on the differences between people.
Examples of Grooming
Grooming begins at an early age, from birth, parents begin shaping the minds of their children. In this way traditions, beliefs, ideals are passed on to the next generation. Children become shaped to carry on the personal narrative of their parents.
Entering school, the public begins to influence and contradict the narrative. Teachers and peers add to the influence and narrative. The child is in a situation to find ways to adapt.
Teachers begin grooming the child to fit into the classroom. The beginning of the process of preparing the student to become a member of society. A good teacher begins preparing the student to become a critical thinker.
The challenge is always about finding the fine balance between worlds in which we live. Growing into a new set of beliefs. Or remaining inside of the beliefs taught by parents. Living within the village is the norm.
Resources to consider
Study finds mask mandates result in compliance
Do not stop here, continue to conduct research. Learn to question everything you hear.
