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Tutorialemma
Starting Member
16 Posts Gratitude: 2
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Posted - 05/26/2005 : 16:44:49
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Psychologists should devote more effort toward understanding the mechanisms of action, effects, and ethical implications of social influence techniques, especially those that are deceptive and indirect. |
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AusieAnna
Starting Member
22 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 16:47:43
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quote: Originally posted by Tutorialemma
Psychologists should devote more effort toward understanding the mechanisms of action, effects, and ethical implications of social influence techniques, especially those that are deceptive and indirect.
Much of the laboratory work on social influence is applicable to the understanding of behavioral changes observed in cults and LGATs. In many ways, the latter appear to be real life examples of mechanisms discovered in the lab. They are, however, more complex and subtle than laboratory studies suggest. Clinical and first person accounts of radical, sudden conversions, for example, often suggest the presence of hypnotic-like processes, rendered more effective perhaps by a particularly vulnerable subject. These processes are not as well understood as they could be.
Additional research ought also be directed toward the notion of an influence continuum. If this proposal has merit, it will help clarify the ethical implications of influence techniques, which also require further study. Paradoxically, however, ethical constraints on experimentation may seriously impede a psychological understanding of the very influence processes that call for ethical analysis. Many of the classic experiments in social influence (e.g., Milgram, 19xx) would not be performed today. It may be necessary, therefore, for psychologists to use less restrictive methodologies in studying these processes. Perhaps, for example, we should develop participant observation methodologies that are more sensitive to psychological subtleties than are the participant observation methods of sociologists and anthropologists.
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harryrayce
Starting Member
12 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 16:59:42
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The study of deceptive and indirect techniques of persuasion and control should include study of how such techniques can be resisted and neutralized, and how those harmed by such techniques can be provided more appropriate therapy.
So much psychological effort has been devoted to benevolent attempts to help people change that we psychologists easily forget that change agents can have malevolent goals as well. If we are the experts on individual behavioral change, then we are responsible for studying how individuals can defend themselves against change agents. Precious little work has been done in this area, a notable exception being an article by Andersen and Zimbardo (1985). Once again, however, the messiness of this subject in the real world suggests that non-traditional methodologies may have to be used.
Treatment of cultists and their families, whose needs differ in many ways from other clients (e.g., the need for information about cultic influence processes), also requires additional study, although some work has been done (Addis et al., 1985; Langone, 1985; Langone & Clark, 1984; Singer, 1986). |
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warbird
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