Governments love humiliation tests.
A humiliation test is a small, pointless obedience drill that trains you to nod first, think later.
It's not about the content. It's about proving the system can make you do or say something you know is dumb, petty, or disproportionate — and you'll do it anyway.
1) What humiliation tests buy the system
A) Dominance proof: "If I can make you do something obviously unnecessary, I know you're safe for the serious stuff".
B) Sorting mechanism. Humiliation tests are filters:
- People who refuse: marked as "difficult", "non-compliant", "not a culture fit".
- People who swallow it: marked as "safe", promotable, eligible for sensitive roles.
No need for ideology diagnostics; a few small, dumb asks tell the system who will bend when it matters.
C) Precedent for escalation. Once you've complied with something you privately saw as bullshit, the system has:
- A precedent: "You agreed before; this is just more of the same".
- A leverage point: your prior compliance can be used to shame future hesitation.
2) What it does inside your head
Humiliation tests weaponize cognitive dissonance:
1. You do the thing (sign, chant, click, recite) because saying no is costly in the moment.
2. You feel the internal conflict: "That was dumb / exaggerated / dishonest".
3. To reduce that tension, your brain updates the story:
- "Maybe it’s not that bad".
- "Maybe they're right".
- "I'm not the kind of person who just submits for no reason, so this must be reasonable".
You move from "I complied under pressure" to "I basically agree" to protect your self-image.
Each petty concession burns your doubt and rewrites your narrative a bit more in their favor.
Humiliation tests are small, symbolic and public.
Over time, the people remaining in key positions are those who've repeatedly signaled:
- "I will override my own judgment and self-respect to keep my place in the system".
That's what the system wanted all along.
When something feels petty, compulsory, and performative, assume it's not about the surface issue.
Ask:
- "What larger narrative am I validating by doing this?"
- "What future request does this make harder for me to refuse?"
- "If I comply now, what will my next self be forced to defend, to avoid admitting I caved here?"
That's the real permission you're being asked to grant.
