My Experience with the Pinkerton Syndrome.
‘The freedom of self-expression should not be a mask for the oblivion or lack of situational awareness and introspective mindfulness.’
Simple Bear 05.09.2011.
‘All Singaporean men are useless’ a statement that was, in my own opinion, a sweeping statement that was discriminating, insensitive and egoistic especially when Singaporean men were among the audience.
I kept quiet but a non-response to the discriminating remarks doesn’t imply my concurrence but respect for the rights of individuals to hold differing views. It is normal for all of us to hold differentiating opinions with regards to certain issues that we feel strongly for. However, going a step further by manifesting prejudices in discriminating remarks in justification of personal inclinations is perhaps uncalled for. The egoistic expression of one’s personal inclinations indicated a lack of respect for others which I have to admit, had a hard time trying not to evince my revulsion for.
In the midst of all those negativity, there are a few questions that surfaced in my mind. First, the nature or nurture reasons behind the causation of the development of the dispositions that led to the expression of discriminations. I think the socio-cultural element of the Pinkerton Syndrome is a major nurture contributor to the growth of the stereotypical attitudes and prejudices of the individuals in their dispositional development, which of course, lead to the causation of the discrimination that I had perceived to have experienced. Experience with Singaporean men maybe another psychological-social factor that contributes to the Pinkerton Syndrome and vice versa, the Pinkerton Syndrome affect the perceived experience with Singaporean men.
Second, the possibility of personal or societal prejudices, stereotypes in the causation of my intrinsic responses towards the perceived experienced discrimination. The social identification of me as a Singaporean, Chinese man invokes, perhaps certain stereotypical attitudes and prejudices towards the perceived variant of the Pinkerton Syndrome which was apparent in my cognitive response towards the negative experience. In retrospection, my personal expectations of the respect towards others may play a part in the response too. In the heat of the moment, I was aware of the activation of self-serving attributions as a possible response and rationalization of the experience.
Third, the possibility of the perceived discriminating remarks as the result of a misjudgment and the intent was not as perceived. It was difficult for me to recognize the possibility of such a misjudgment and misinterpretation of the intent on my part. Maintenance of objectivity is almost non-existent in my cognition towards the experience, save for the element of meta-cognition and respect for individuals’ freedom of self-expression.
Personally, I have no problems with ladies holding such stereotypical views and personal inclinations towards other nationalities, my prior experience and relations with the ladies who held similar inclinations had so far been amicable. However, the verbal expression towards Singaporean men in the form of such blunt statements is discrimination. Looking at the other side of the coin, the individual may have negative experience with Singaporean men that resulted in the perceived variant of the Pinkerton Syndrome, and the perceived negative experience had cast a negative veil over future experiences, enhancing the individual’s negative cognitive appraisal of Singaporean men. Allowing empathy into the picture, I can understand and close this chapter on my experience with the Pinkerton Syndrome.
