Progressive mindset

Transformation regarded as an activator for growth is known to always act as the stimulant for disruption too. This slow or rapid and continuous but unavoidable process born out of choice or circumstance impacts both on the individual and on the collective in similar and dissimilar ways. While the impact on the former is usually emotional and stressful often caused by the loss of familiar patterns, the impact on the latter is inevitably caused by shifts in the structural, social, cultural, technological, or political arenas besides the emerging new trends or norms. Both the individual and the collective undergo psychological adjustment as they cruise through fear and anxiety to experience hope or excitement, shedding the old familiar routines to face the new unfamiliar reality, the path traced being known as the change curve which is synonymous with Karl Lewin’s “unfreezing process” model. According to Lewin, “change requires ‘unfreezing’ old behaviour, transitioning through a confusing middle state, and ‘refreezing’ or solidifying into a new equilibrium.” Both the individual and the collective are absolutely essential for implementing effective social changes. Having acknowledged this, I would like to remind you that social changes are initiated by individuals whose aspirations change attitudes via concrete actions, which then incrementally modifies collective behaviour resulting in changes in social structures, shared beliefs, etc., thereby giving birth to a collective consciousness which unifies societies.

Teamwork and collaboration concept. Vector flat illustration of cooperation and partnership

Speaking of collective consciousness, which is necessary for social movements, one cannot overlook the possiblity of collective or mass behaviour leading to positve and/or negative outcomes. Positivity occurring when groups promote transformation to solve existing social problems and arrive at long lasting solutions whereas negativity is the unintended byproduct of deindividualization which is the irrational or deviant behaviour precipitated by the individual’s loss of personal identity while conforming to the crowd. As I am still lingering on ‘negativity’, I would like to reiterate what sources state about excessively fast changes in social movements. This can lead to societies’ paralysis or a disorganized ‘vacuum’ state also known as ‘collective inertia’. Returing to positive outcomes, positive prospection or the hopeful collective entertianing the belief that change is achievable, encourges the individuals submerged in the mass to take productive actions. As long as changes are not forced on the individuals who are also the collective, the advent of ‘change fatigue’ wouldn’t be a concern any time soon.

If I have confused my blogsite visitors by talking about change and its impact on the individual and the collective after going through sources such as EBSCO(Social movement theory), ChangeFirst (The personal dynamics of change), Substack (Self determined leaders – The impact of change: finding a new equilibrium), YouTube (Collective consciousness), Britannica (Mass society/social structure, culture & impact), and National Library of Medicine (When change causes stress), it is because of my recent attempts to follow the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections especially with the media’s focus on change in the mindset of the voters, on the changes made to the electoral rolls by the removal of duplicates, change in the voter turnout percentage, changes evident in the youngsters’ views about leadership, the first time voters’ emphasizing on the need for social and political changes in the state, etc. If you are wondering why the state of Tamil Nadu in particular, it is because of my birth in Chennai and my growing-up in Coimbatore. The individual voters have submerged in the collective to find solutions for existing problems such as corruption, scams and scandals, dynasty politics, law and order situations, mismanagement of disputes, non-fulfilment of election promises, etc. Many have let go of their personal identity or preferences to conform to the crowd or the collective hoping that new leaders would redeem their losses and reward them with clean politics.