Gratuitous Concurrence

Just one of the barriers to effective communication is a phenomenon known as:

Gratuitous Concurrence

Quite simply, this is a tendency for automatic agreement. It’s not necessarily from fear of authority; often it’s a cultural signal showing a person is ready to engage in a conversation. Two examples might help:

1. An Aboriginal man was in court to testify as a witness. He was not charged with anything, but when he was being sworn in he pleaded guilty.

2. A barrister asked a series of questions to which a witness kept replying yes.

Barrister: Do you understand you don’t have to answer my question?

Witness: Yes

Barrister: Now, do you have to tell me the story?

Witness: Yes

The judge noticed that several Aboriginals sitting in the public area of the court were also all mouthing the word yes and nodding along with the witness.