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Perhaps it is coincidence, but a lot of recent policy changes seem to have the effect of moving us towards authoritarianism. It is worth bearing in mind that e

Perhaps it is coincidence, but a lot of recent policy changes seem to have the effect of moving us towards authoritarianism. It is worth bearing in mind that everything that us humans do, ultimately, is driven by our biology: our natural instincts and our natural drives. We are pack animals. The pack has alpha males and beta males. The alpha males are driven to show their dominance of the beta males by reminding them of their subservient status as frequently, as forcefully and as intrusively as possible. Authoritarianism is nothing more than the societal manifestation of that natural drive. Us beta males (the general population) are having our noses rubbed in the dirt by the alpha males (the authorities) so that they can feel good about their own superiority. We are just reverting to type - stupid, prideful apes that we are.

jka 13y ago
Alpha humans I'm not so concerned about - every group has a few larger-than-life personalities who will show off a little more, lead the pack, etc - I'm not sure it's strictly fair to say that these individuals are always driven to rub people's noses in things and trying to take authority. Some people make good leaders and have empathy. What I am worried about, and the criteria that fits your description more neatly (in my opinion -- I'm not a psychologist) is sociopathic behaviour - manipulative, deceptive, sans empathy, and in pursuit of power/dominance, but often outwardly charming. These people can do very well and reach very powerful positions - there are statistics showing that density of sociopaths is higher amongst the population of CEOs than amongst the general population for example. There's probably fair reason to assume that many would love to have access to the kind of information and power that spy agencies now possess. Interestingly and controversially there has also been research into using 'big data' to identify sociopathic tendencies. Would spy agencies use this, and would they ever turn the glass on their own employees/leaders? I think the answer is that they would, but they would easily be convinced that they need powerful leaders to ensure the ongoing dominance of their countries on a global scale. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/23/twitter-psychopaths http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/23/twitter-psych... PS: I felt compelled to reply because I think it's a little dangerous to suggest that this is a purely natural result of human pack behaviour - it is possible to spot and call out sociopathic behaviour if it can be identified, and so I don't personally think this trend towards authoritarianism is natural or unstoppable.
- w_t_payne 13y ago
  "Natural" neither implies good nor inevitable -- but it is a behavioural attractor that we gravitate towards unless we take particular care. Perhaps the term "Alpha male" was inappropriate - maybe "sociopath" might have been better - either way, despite the smoke-screen of rationality, I suspect that many of the laws and regulations in our society today exist in the form that they do primarily to make us subjects aware of our subjugation, and to "keep us in our place". How else do you explain the DMV?

jka 13y ago

Alpha humans I'm not so concerned about - every group has a few larger-than-life personalities who will show off a little more, lead the pack, etc - I'm not sure it's strictly fair to say that these individuals are always driven to rub people's noses in things and trying to take authority. Some people make good leaders and have empathy. What I am worried about, and the criteria that fits your description more neatly (in my opinion -- I'm not a psychologist) is sociopathic behaviour - manipulative, deceptive, sans empathy, and in pursuit of power/dominance, but often outwardly charming. These people can do very well and reach very powerful positions - there are statistics showing that density of sociopaths is higher amongst the population of CEOs than amongst the general population for example. There's probably fair reason to assume that many would love to have access to the kind of information and power that spy agencies now possess. Interestingly and controversially there has also been research into using 'big data' to identify sociopathic tendencies. Would spy agencies use this, and would they ever turn the glass on their own employees/leaders? I think the answer is that they would, but they would easily be convinced that they need powerful leaders to ensure the ongoing dominance of their countries on a global scale. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/23/twitter-psychopaths http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/23/twitter-psych... PS: I felt compelled to reply because I think it's a little dangerous to suggest that this is a purely natural result of human pack behaviour - it is possible to spot and call out sociopathic behaviour if it can be identified, and so I don't personally think this trend towards authoritarianism is natural or unstoppable.

w_t_payne 13y ago
"Natural" neither implies good nor inevitable -- but it is a behavioural attractor that we gravitate towards unless we take particular care. Perhaps the term "Alpha male" was inappropriate - maybe "sociopath" might have been better - either way, despite the smoke-screen of rationality, I suspect that many of the laws and regulations in our society today exist in the form that they do primarily to make us subjects aware of our subjugation, and to "keep us in our place". How else do you explain the DMV?