The Washington Outsider

Some useful tools for comprehending, analyzing, and modeling the mechanisms of individual and nonhuman actors

7/20/2013

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Ideally, actors (nonhuman living creatures, people, groups of people, social institutions, businesses, states, etc.) will pursue their perceived interests, which might include their short-term, long-term, and/or indirect interests, in an assertive manner, thereby enabling the interests of all actors to be adequately addressed when conflicts of interest arise.  In the real world, overly aggressive actors tend to stifle the interests of more passive actors while individual actors respond differently to different actors.  In fact, some manipulate actors, who are focused solely on their own interests, will undermine other actors attempting to be assertive by claiming the actions of others are stifling or abusive.  Meanwhile, passive actors will often perceive assertive actors as being overly aggressive, because they tend to neglect their own interests, and assertive actors are inclined to ignore the interests of passive actors.  Obviously, this type of dynamic creates a problem as it hinders actors from reaching a point of equilibrium in their interactions, i.e. society starts to malfunction. 

Psychologists, sociologists, economists, and political scientists chart information in order to clarify what their data might be telling them.  By viewing information as a spectrum chart, which presents a particular component in terms of an increasing prominence or intensity toward two opposing extremes, individuals can look at how actors interact with similarly treated actors over time to assess whether individual actors are properly pursuing their interests, which can vary for different types of interests and different actor traits.  (Please, be aware that this type of modeling is highly dependent upon the observer’s working definition of the descriptors used, so what words are used to describe a trait can be put in a different order while each descriptor can be broken down into subcategories; the objective of using the spectrum chart is to demonstrate an increasing tendency toward one extreme or the other.)
Picture
The ability and the capacity of actors to pursue their interests help determine the health of every aspect of our society.  As such, here are two more spectrum charts that are useful in understanding whether or not actors are functioning properly in our society.
Picture
Meanwhile, the balance of leverage among actors plays a major role in determining if the interests of all actors can and will be pursued (external/socially mitigating factors). 

(See Yahoo! Contributor article for additional information:  http://voices.yahoo.com/the-greater-economic-leverage-12069168.html?cat=3)

Conversely, the tolerances of every actor for various necessary discomforts also play a major role in determining if the interests of the actors can and will be pursued (internal/personal mitigating factors.

(See Yahoo! Contributor article for additional information:  http://voices.yahoo.com/the-role-substitution-decision-making-12201011.html?cat=72)

Why these spectrum charts and other models are useful:

Intellectual pursuits are about breaking down complex systems into manageable, comprehendible components, so we can better understand our world.  Just as three dimensional objects can be mapped into two dimensional components, so can the many aspects of the human mind, such as emotions, and the interworkings of nonhuman actors.  That said, it is often difficult to recognize the two dimensional map as a representation of the three dimensional object, especially when the observer lacks the intellectual tools and architecture needed to fully understand the representation, while the 2D map needs to be larger to account for all of the 3D data.  As such, these charts help describe one component of how the human mind and social actors function.

A few more thoughts that can be useful when trying to understand and model the dimensions of the human mind and actors, which behave like humans:

(Derived and adapted from Carl Jung’s theory of personality)

Personality is constructed of the Psyche(Self), Ego (modes of thought), Persona(s) (modes of behavior), Shadow(s) (suppressed modes of thought and behavior), and Essence (soul)

Self-Ego = Essence

Ego-Persona = Shadow

;therefore,

Self-Shadow-Persona = Essence

Personality Modes = modes of thought (mindset, worldview, perspective, etc…a.k.a the training and others experiences actors use to acquire, process, and apply new information) + modes of behavior

(See Yahoo! Contributor article for additional information:  http://voices.yahoo.com/describing-mind-as-modes-thought-12154416.html?cat=72)

Categories of Modes of thought

Environmentally Determined: Social, Cultural, Communal, Familial, etc

Mentally (internally) Determined: Psychological, Intellectual, Emotional

*Assess if modes are Egocentric (subjective) versus Transcendent (objective), subjective nullifying (ignore bias), subjective bridging (identify common views), subjective compensating (compensate for bias), to determine how to properly interact with actors acting in a particular mode. 

Categories of Modes of behavior

Instincts (type of response): Intellectual, Intuitive, Emotional

Motivations (responsiveness to types of stimulus): Economical, Social, Emotional

*Assess if responses are socially and personally regressive versus progressive, degenerative versus constructive, functional versus dysfunctional, etc

(See Yahoo! Contributor article for additional information http://voices.yahoo.com/defense-against-dark-arts-manipulators-12135042.html?cat=41)

Personality (Identity)Disorders:

Persona Disorders: social environment distorts expression of true self

Shadow Disorders: social environment suppresses true self

Essence Disorders: philosophically conflicted (conflicts of interest over morals and ethics, spiritual disharmony, etc.)

Types of dysfunctions

Social(culturally maladapted), emotional, identity, behavioral (impulse, addressable with retraining, versus thoughtful action, addressable with reeducation), trauma-induced, etc.

(See Yahoo! Contributor article for additional information http://voices.yahoo.com/trying-understand-ptsd-other-trauma-induced-12225670.html?cat=72)

*Assess to what degree dysfunctions are manifested internally versus externally and if they are the result of situational factors versus personal factors (biology, personal history, etc.)

A note on the scientific method, circular reasoning, deductive/inductive reasoning, and subjective/objective thinking:

Subjective beings with limited comprehension of the universe must use specific examples to derive generalities in order to function.  After all, relying on generalities to understand how to react to specific situations would prevent humans from responding to real world events in real time.  It is, in fact, our subjective nature that results from our need to use inductive reasoning.  Therefore, subject beings, who are trained to address various situations in an objective manner by transcending their bias (scientists), versus those trained to find common ties in order to bridge subjective perspectives (philosophers), with limited knowledge of the universe, use both inductive and deductive reasoning.

Inductive reasoning allows us to develop generalized models that can be used to deduce specific predictions.  Inductive reasoning may well be the inverse of deductive reasoning, yet inductive reasoning is verified by deductive reasoning.  This is not circular reasoning as different examples are used to induce a generalized model before those examples are used to deductively confirm the generalized model.  In essence, this is the scientific method. 

Saying God exists because God exists is circular; however, deriving the existence of God from events and circumstances is an example of unverified inductive reasoning.  Proper examples of God’s actions would be needed to use deductive reasoning to confirm His existence.  These proper examples may or may not exist, i.e. the theory may not be testable, which is why religion is not scientific in nature.  As such, the question of whether God exists or not is not a scientific question, because it is not testable.  It is a philosophical question.  It is not, however, circular reasoning; God is an idea derived from a subjective perspective that utilized inductive reasoning to arrive at the conclusion that God exists.

That said, it is only from an objective, non-religious perspective that this line of reasoning can be used as this particular subjective perspective has evolved to exclude the possibility that God does not exist.  Again, this is not circular reasoning as the subjective perspective would cease to exist if another conclusion was reached when it is transformed into a different subjective perspective.

*Religion is a philosophy based on a shared belief of the unknown. 
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        • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • How the People Are Lost in the Extremes of 'Right' and 'Left' in Politics
      • Should One's Faith Influence a Citizen's Vote?
      • Should the U.S. Government Help Fund Election Campaigns?
      • On Defunding Political Science Research
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      • Justice for All: The Case for Legal, Social, Economic, and Personal Justice
      • Why Hardliner Thinking in the NSA and CIA is Doing Damage
      • On the Baby Boomer’s Self-Centeredness
      • The Case for Personal Responsibility
      • What Modern Day Revolutionaries Need to Learn from Leader's like Mandela
      • Rising Western Acceptance of LGBT Primes Culture Clash
      • The Need for Wisdom Beyond the Numbers
      • Perceptions of the United States
      • How Honesty Relates to the Great Recession
      • Why the Middle Class and Rich Need to Support Their Long-term Interests
      • The Aristocratic Republic of the United States of America
      • Discussing the Need for Community Support
      • Why New Forms of Capitalism and Socialism Will Compliment Each Other
      • The Reason We Need to Understand What it is to Be Poor in America
      • Why the World Needs to Reinvest in America
      • Why Are We Against Terrorism?
      • Why Does Terrorism Exist?
      • US Influence: The Value of American Citizenship Around the World
      • Responding to "the Soldier as Sacrficial Victim"
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      • How comfort defines us as people >
        • Is Suicide a Cowardly Way Out?
      • Defense Against the Dark Arts of Manipulators
      • Defining Abuse >
        • On the Willing Victim of Abuse
        • How to Understand Abuse Victims
        • Recognizing Abuse
      • The Role of Substitution in Decision Making
      • Trying to Understand PTSD and Other Trauma-induced Mental Health Issues
      • Exploring Human Emotion >
        • Mental Illness is Not the Cause of Anger and Violence >
          • Trying to Understand the Boston Marathon Bombing and Other Violent Crimes
          • Getting into the Twisted Mind of the Tucson Murder
      • Describing the Mind as Modes of Thought >
        • It’s Just Sex?
      • Relationships, or Arrangement
      • Understanding the Effects of Groupthink in the Workplace
      • Relating Circular, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning to the Scientific Method and Religion
      • What is a Redneck? Understanding Different Cultures and Thinking
    • Economics >
      • The Need for Greater Economic Leverage >
        • Evaluating NAFTA and TPP
        • Undercutting Logistics with the Underpaid Independent Contractor
        • Unions: Hindrance or Essential to Free Markets
        • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
        • Haitians Sue the UN for Failure to Help With Cholera
        • Looking at How Corn-based Ethanol and Other Alternative Energy Subsidies Stack Up
      • Empowering the Sovereign Nation-State by Rethinking Trade Policy >
        • Irish Sovereignty Lost Before Bailout
        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
      • Ending the need for government support and tackling poverty
      • Income inequality: understanding the limitations and psychology of disadvantage
      • Looking at the Future of American Jobs >
        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
      • Embracing a Capitalist Mindset >
        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
    • Education >
      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
    • US Constitution >
      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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