The Societal Impacts of Behaviorism vs. Self-Determination - a poll

[icehorse]

Some people claim that behaviorism and self-determination theory are used by the powerful to influence society. Do you think that's true, and if so, what do you think the relative impacts of the two approaches are?

 

[Quintessence]

I don't know how one would even begin to objectively measure and assess something like this, but frankly? I just don't buy that "the powerful" humans are actually all that powerful to begin with. It takes a certain amount of anthropocentric hubris to believe that, and while I won't disregard the tapestry of influences among human persons (and non-human persons) this... "the powerful" are not like keystone species of an ecosystem. They just aren't. Even if their egos make them talk themselves up as if they are.

 

[icehorse]

I don't know how one would even begin to objectively measure and assess something like this, but frankly? I just don't buy that "the powerful" humans are actually all that powerful to begin with. It takes a certain amount of anthropocentric hubris to believe that, and while I won't disregard the tapestry of influences among human persons (and non-human persons) this... "the powerful" are not like keystone species of an ecosystem. They just aren't. Even if their egos make them talk themselves up as if they are.

To be clear, I think anthropocentric views are pervasive and extremely dangerous, so I think we're agreed on that point?

But for this thread, I was hoping to focus only on human society. In other words, what techniques are used by some humans to control and manipulate other humans?