Cliches are the lynchpin of one particular linguistic maneuver that works in subtle but impactful ways. Thought termination, also called the thought-terminating cliche, can end conversations instantly and even keep people beholden to an ideology. How do these innocent phrases carry such an effect? It all comes down to how people relate to each other.
What Is Thought Termination?
A thought-terminating cliche ends a discussion immediately. For instance, suppose you are attempting to convince your friend that how they treat their spouse is unhealthy. “Your actions are hurtful,” you say. “What if you tried this fairer option instead?”
Your friend barely pauses before stating simply, “We’ve always done it this way.”
This instantly ends the conversation. The friend has shut down further attempts at convincing, communicating that they have no interest in outside opinions and do not believe that their actions are problematic in the first place. Even you, the well-meaning friend, have no strong foothold to push the conversation further in any productive way besides reiterating your point. This is why thought-terminating cliches are so effective.
Other examples of thought termination (that is, ways to shut down a conversation quickly) include:
- God/the universe works in mysterious ways
- Don’t rock the boat
- That’s above my/your pay grade
- It is what it is
- Let’s agree to disagree
- Trust the process
- Now isn’t the time
- That’s just the way things are
- If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
The Power of Thought Termination
These are all just simple cliches, right? While many people use them without the deliberate intention of exerting power over others, that is, in fact, what they do. Thought-terminating cliches place one person not just in control of the content of the conversation, but also of its end. Thus, the other person must be resigned to this timeline, regardless of whether they had more to say.
To be clear, the other speaker can say more. But it is typically not treated as part of the conversation and will not be considered by the other party, who has already terminated the engagement.
While the average person may wield such cliches accidentally, these linguistic maneuvers can have much more drastic consequences. Some of the primary areas where one can find clear examples of thought termination as a power tactic include:
- Companies – Bosses or team leaders may use cliches such as “that’s just the way it’s done” or “I don’t make the rules” to dissuade lower-ranking individuals from innovating and threatening their position through promotions or obsolescence.
- Politics – Leaders may say things like “trust the process” to avoid clarifying their political strategies. This prevents their supporters from critically thinking about their stances (which could flip them to a different party) and may help politicians sidestep the consequences of failing to uphold the policies they claim to represent.
- Cults – One of cults’ most notable linguistic features is the frequency with which they employ thought-terminating cliches. By reiterating that “that’s just the way things are” or “there is no ‘I’ in ‘team,’” cult leaders foster group cohesion by stopping members from thinking critically or pursuing lines of questioning any further.
While many uses of thought termination come from nefarious purposes, not all cliches are bad. In fact, some types of thought termination, when used with intention, can be great for mental health. For instance, if a survivor of trauma is finding it challenging to stay present without returning to intrusive thoughts about the event, the use of “it’s not a big deal” or other personally chosen cliches can help bring them back to the present and stop flashbacks or dissociation in their tracks. Thought termination need not be directed only at others!
As with many facets of language, cliches can hold immense power over conversations. Whether they serve to invalidate, control, or uplift, the words we choose can impact the people around us in often unexpected ways. The next time you consider telling someone that “you have to spend money to make money” or that they should “stop being so sensitive,” be sure to think about whether you’re stripping them of power or shutting them down before they’ve said their piece. By being more aware of how these small language moves can have significant consequences, we can all communicate better—and spot those trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
