The Impact of the Law of Jante

By Jan Peter Aursnes

So unknown, and still so omnipresent across borders and cultures,

and seemingly so widely accepted, even though confronted with the
law, probably nobody will admit to it.

The Danish/Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose put it on paper in

his novel A Fugitive Crosses the Tracks (Sandemose 1933).

It is a story about the crippling affect of social conditioning referred

to in the novel as Jante Law. This work is very familiar to those who
grew up in Scandinavia, as Sandemose hails from and lived in that
area. The story focuses on the effect of a theory summed up in a series
of proclamations, or rules, known as Jante Law, that are ingrained in
the minds of residents of a small town. These rules seek to not just
level the playing field for everyone but stifle any growth or prevent
any break from the conventional wisdom and customs as they relate
to this small community based on the author’s hometown. The Laws
of Jante are as follows:

Do not believe you are something.

Do not believe you are as good as us.

Do not believe you are wiser than us.

Do not fancy yourself better than us.

 Do not believe you know more than us.

Do not believe you are greater than us.

Do not believe you amount to anything.

Do not laugh at us.

Do not believe anyone cares about you.

Do not believe you can teach us anything.

This is an example of the type of mind-set that creeps into people’s

subconscious and prevents them from charting their own course.

Why is it so? Why is it so important for family, society, and

government to mold everybody into conformity? We come into this
world as unique human beings. As soon as we are born, the molding
process starts. Never mind the shape you come in, you’re destined to
fit into the same hole. Parents, grandparents. Look at your brother,
listen to your mom, this is how we do it around here, thank you very
much. Don’t do this and don’t do that. Comply with social norms.
Then society takes over through pre-school and the school system.
Grow up; get yourself an education and a secure job. Government
kicks in through laws, procedures, systems and taxes. Trying to keep
everybody conform. Earl Nightingale says that the opposite of
courage is not cowardness, it is conformity. So why is it so present
when it is so dangerous. Even in the USA, the land of possibilities and
individualisms it is creeping in.
Dictators of course love the idea, probably under the cover of being
protective, which of course is just a hidden agenda, it is just a way of
keeping everybody down.

So why all this squareness with little room for individuality? Is it an

effort of over protectiveness; we don’t want anyone to loose, fall
outside of society. Or are we afraid to see others win, looking in our
own mirror only to see someone not daring to break out?

As it is, the Law of Jante syndrome has turned out to be a very

present part of us, which is sad as it to a very large extent prohibits
development. Think how much this world could have thrived if what
is expressed through the Law of Jante was not allowed to have such
an impact on society, on the life of the individual.

Jan Peter Aursnes is the author of "Unlock Your Future: The Key to a
Fulfilling Life," a business coach, consultant and owner of Quantum
Leaps Consulting, LLC. With a degree in management sciences from
the University of Manchester, England, Jan Peter has 27 years
experience in the corporate world in Europe. He also worked for the
International Red Cross as a delegate in the Republic of Georgia.
His focus is on assisting people and companies turn their Passion into
Prosperity. Contact Jan Peter for speaking or coaching at 561-868-
1815 or visit http://www.quantumleapsconsulting.com