Zero position of perception

To say that all people always think of themselves and look after their own interests is to think too well of people. Many people, when they live and act, do not think about anything at all, they are lazy or afraid to turn on their own heads, thoughtlessly obeying the expectations of others or the requirements of the situation. In such cases, one speaks of the absence of one’s own position, or, in other words, of the zero position of perception.

The zero position of perception is the replacement of one’s own perception and initiative with an uncontrolled choice from the existing set of stereotypes of perception and behavior.

Zero position is the basis of thoughtless existence, patterned and guided behavior. We can say that in the zero position of perception, a person acts like a robot, living not his own, but someone else’s life.

If a person in his development has remained at the level of a trained animal, does not reach for culture and does not turn on his head, living with reflexes, instincts and built-in social patterns, he does not rise above the zero position of perception in his response. It happens that developed people fall into a zero position of perception, become blind to what is happening and their interests, when they are lazy, tired and replace their freedom with patterns. Living perception is replaced by stereotyped perception, creative thinking — by intellectual templates, free communication — by surrogates of mass culture…

There is no need to think when there are the usual rituals: the mother wants to feed the child, because the child needs to be fed, and at the same time it does not matter to her that the child does not want to eat. Mom says: «Eat immediately!» — but it only means that mom will say it, and not that she will see to it and it will be done. When a mother does all this, she is not a meaningful person.

Fears, anger, resentment, other strong emotions also block the mind and lower a person into a thoughtless response. Dependence on habits that replace the mind and wean to think leads to the same result.

Smokers do not smoke because smoking gives them pleasure, they do not even notice when the hand itself reaches for a cigarette. This is a bad habit.

A similar habit is thoughtless submission to the expectations of others and a tendency to field behavior. Often a thoughtless life is the choice of the person himself, who is afraid of responsibility and exploits the position of the Victim.

The zero position of perception has both its disadvantages and its advantages. The obvious disadvantages include the fact that the habit of living in a zero position of perception makes people thoughtless, driven, underdeveloped.

Most children are born quite alive and active, but it is difficult for unprepared parents to deal with them, and: “At first, the child is taught to walk and talk, and then to sit and be silent …” Shouts, slaps, “don’t walk, don’t touch, you won’t succeed , you still don’t know how ”- the child is taught that the less it is, the better. As far as this happens, the position of the follower is formed in the child, the position “turn off your brains and listen to what they tell you.” Those children who were less exposed to this pressure or had an innate leadership core of independence later become either ill-mannered people (hooligans), or leaders and creators. Sometimes both at the same time.

On the other hand, a child who listens and obeys SMART adults without internal resistance has a greater chance of quickly adopting experience and culture.

Attitude towards those who go beyond the templates

People who actively go beyond patterns are usually subjected to pressure and aggression from conformists — the «silent majority». See Conformists and Nonconformists

Zero position and first position

It is not always easy to distinguish when a person is in the first position, and when in the zero position. See →