The habit of living in confinement breeds slavery—while the courage to break free is what makes us human

By Nisar Banbhan

Human beings are, by nature, social creatures. The foundations of personality development are laid in the early stages of life—shaped primarily by parental influence, familial environment, and the surrounding cultural ethos. This becomes the initial step in forming what is known as self-concept—a preliminary understanding of one’s own identity.

However, a psychological crisis begins when an individual narrows their sense of identity so severely that they begin to perceive their own self, religion, or nation as the absolute center of the universe. This rigid self-centered worldview gives rise to what psychologists refer to as Group Narcissism—a condition where love for one’s group turns into blind devotion.

This delusion doesn’t remain isolated. It gradually spreads into the collective consciousness, resulting in a mass delusion—a state where an entire society begins to believe that the world is conspiring against them. In such a scenario, individuals start viewing their hatred and victimhood as virtues, spiraling into a victim mentality.

This mental state is akin to paranoia—an irrational fear and distrust of others. Simultaneously, it breeds a deeper internal conflict known as cognitive dissonance. When inner beliefs collide with external realities, the human mind begins to distort truth in order to maintain its false sense of security.

People trapped in this mental state adopt a prison worldview—they see the world as a prison and themselves as its prisoners. But paradoxically, instead of uniting with fellow prisoners, they harbor contempt toward them. In such a distorted view, where the world is a prison and all are inmates, the social dynamic of incarceration dictates a harsh rule: “Either conform or be destroyed.”

When a prisoner deems others beneath him, the rest of the inmates will inevitably retaliate. Survival within such a system requires unity—this is the in-group survival mechanism. Hence, if one perceives the world as confinement, one must adopt social harmony to survive. Otherwise, the collective hatred of others will consume them—a phenomenon best described as in-group conflict destruction.

Consider, for instance, the case of Saudi Arabia—a land often regarded as sacred. It has consciously shed its old worldview and aligned itself with global currents. By investing in modernization, tourism, and the sports industry, it has evolved its collective identity. This marks a decisive step toward self-actualization—the realization of one’s full potential and a meaningful role in the world.

Yet some nations remain ensnared in psychological entrapment, deluded into believing that the entire world is against them. This is known as the persecution complex—where people perpetually cast themselves as victims and others as oppressors. These nations continue to cling to outdated hatreds, conspiracy theories, and superstition-laden prayers.

Recent events starkly reflect this malaise. Some extremists take innocent lives, one country accuses another, and major world powers endorse these claims. Ironically, those who were raised on years of anti-Israel sentiment in solidarity with Palestine now find the President of Palestine issuing a statement in favor of India—a classic manifestation of cognitive dissonance.

Such contradictions occur when blind hatred renders one incapable of confronting their own reality. When belief and truth collide, individuals suffer internal chaos. It’s like a child raised to believe their hero is infallible—only to be shattered when the hero errs.

There are indeed signs in this for those who reflect. Those you taught your children to hate are now rejecting your version of truth. The world runs on interests, not sermons. Neither your long, fervent prayers change anyone’s destiny, nor does your baseless hatred define anyone’s fate.

Your real enemy is your own mindset—your psychological enslavement that prevents you from understanding that the world has moved on.

Nations that proved their worth through action now lead the race of progress. Those still burdened with the baggage of hate are left to lick their wounds—blaming each other, excommunicating one another.

I have helped liberate dozens of minds from this self-imposed mental captivity. But the journey is far from over. The chains of psychological slavery are deeply rooted.

Those who understand will recognize that the habit of living in confinement breeds slavery—while the courage to break free is what makes us human. Only then will the world begin to take you seriously. Otherwise, the prison will be yours, the slavery will be yours, and so will be the consequence.

Read: Nurturing Resilience in Children

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Hailing from Village Mir Muhammad Banbhan, Taluka Mirwah, District Khapurpur and based in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, Nisar Banbhan is a seasoned professional with nearly 25 years of multifaceted experience, encompassing 3 years in journalism and over two decades of service in a public sector organization. His extensive expertise spans content creation, scriptwriting, screenwriting, lyrics, poetry, and storytelling across multiple languages, including Sindhi, Urdu, and English. Nisar has honed his skills in writing articles, columns, and short stories, contributing to various national and regional media outlets. Additionally, he brings a deep understanding of program development, educational advocacy, and strategic planning, having led initiatives that promote quality education and foster community empowerment. His passion for literature and education merges seamlessly, enabling him to craft impactful narratives that resonate with diverse audiences while driving meaningful change in society.