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xchrom

(108,903 posts) Fri Mar 22, 2013, 08:09 AM Mar 2013

Scientists find visions of a benevolent future society motivate reform{chomsky validated}

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/21/scientists-find-visions-of-a-benevolent-future-society-motivate-reform/

Activists, take note: People support reform if they believe the changes will enhance the future character of society, according to a study published online this month in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Namely, people support a future society that fosters the development of warm and moral individuals.

“There are implications for communication, but also for policies themselves. The ‘easy’ answer would be to promote a policy or cause in terms of how it will make people more warm/moral,” Paul G. Bain of the University of Queensland, the lead author of the study, explained to Raw Story via email. “But I think for this to really work it needs to be authentic/real and not just rhetoric – the policies themselves need to promote this.”

Bain, along with four colleagues, sought to explore Noam Chomsky’s dictum that “social action must be animated by a vision of a future society” — a proposition they said had not been investigated by social psychologists.

The researchers conducted eight separate experiments to investigate how people’s vision of society’s future affects their willingness or unwillingness to support particular reforms. The eight studies asked participants to reflect on how society would change by 2050 if climate change was averted, abortion laws were relaxed, marijuana was legalized, or various religious groups obtained political dominance.

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Scientists find visions of a benevolent future society motivate reform{chomsky validated} (Original Post) xchrom Mar 2013 OP

It's interesting that this comes from Chomsky el_bryanto Mar 2013 #1

I'm not sure it is exactly positive as it cuts both ways Johonny Mar 2013 #3

k&r nt bananas Mar 2013 #2

2012: "The International Occupy assembly wants a better world. Such a world is possible, and here's Zorra Mar 2013 #4

... xchrom Mar 2013 #5

+1000 LongTomH Mar 2013 #6

K&R redqueen Mar 2013 #7

el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)

1. It's interesting that this comes from Chomsky

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 08:34 AM

Mar 2013

Reading his works regularly leaves me feeling like there's nothing to be done and we may as well give up. I mean the depth of conspiracy he describes, the forces aligned us - just seems impossible.

Bryant

Johonny

(20,819 posts)

3. I'm not sure it is exactly positive as it cuts both ways

Reply to el_bryanto (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 11:53 AM

Mar 2013

While a focus on character is more likely to be effective, this cuts both ways – if someone can persuasively argue that legalizing marijuana will harm morality/warmth in people, this might effectively turn people against legalization,” Bain explained to Raw Story. “So the main point I’d make is that we’ve helped identify dimensions that people are most likely to respond to, but these dimensions can be used rhetorically by both supporters and opponents of change.”

Bain found that skeptics of climate change could be coaxed into pro-environmental positions if the issue was presented as creating a more benevolent society and increasing technological progress.

This is why a Republican can feel so warm and positive about the future that seems so bleak to you. Healthy Forest Initiative, Clear Skies Act etc... Republicans often frame policies as moral and benevolent. The whole religious right movement was about people buying into their moral vision of the future. Polling of people opposition to the Iraq war abruptly changed once American soldiers were in harms way and the they could frame the war debate as being for or against our troops. It helped coax people against the war into a more pro-war position since hating fellow Americans could be seen as less benevolent and less moral. As just one example why the situation doesn't mean necessarily a positive outcome and given the ability of the current propaganda machine a reason why Chomsky might not be so positive about the future.

bananas

(27,509 posts)

2. k&r nt

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 11:39 AM

Mar 2013

Zorra

(27,670 posts)

4. 2012: "The International Occupy assembly wants a better world. Such a world is possible, and here's

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 12:17 PM

Mar 2013

how..."

The 'GlobalMay manifesto' of the International Occupy assembly

We are living in a world controlled by forces incapable of giving freedom and dignity to the world's population. A world where we are told "there is no alternative" to the loss of rights gained through the long, hard struggles of our ancestors, and where success is defined in opposition to the most fundamental values of humanity, such as solidarity and mutual support. Moreover, anything that does not promote competitiveness, selfishness and greed is seen as dysfunctional.

But we have not remained silent! From Tunisia to Tahrir Square, Madrid to Reykjavik, New York to Brussels, people are rising up to denounce the status quo. Our effort states "enough!", and has begun to push changes forward, worldwide.
snip---
• Free and universal access to health, education from primary school through higher education and housing for all human beings. We reject outright the privatisation of public services management, and the use of these essential services for private profit.

• We want democratic control of the global commons, defined as the natural resources and economic institutions essential for a proper economic management. These commons are: water, energy, air, telecommunications and a fair and stable economic system. In all these cases, decisions must be accountable to citizens and ensure their interests, not the interests of a small minority of financial elite.
(much more)

Thanks, xchrom!