Why Are Americans So Easy to Manipulate and Control?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

The corporatization of society requires a population that accepts control by authorities, and so when psychologists and psychiatrists began providing techniques that could control people, the corporatocracy embraced mental health professionals.

In psychologist B.F. Skinner’s best-selling book Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971), he argued that freedom and dignity are illusions that hinder the science of behavior modification, which he claimed could create a better-organized and happier society.

During the height of Skinner’s fame in the 1970s, it was obvious to anti-authoritarians such as Noam Chomsky (“The Case Against B.F. Skinner”) and Lewis Mumord that Skinner’s worldview—a society ruled by benevolent control freaks—was antithetical to democracy. In Skinner’s novel Walden Two (1948), his behaviorist hero states, “We do not take history seriously,” to which Lewis Mumford retorted, “And no wonder: if man knew no history, the Skinners would govern the world, as Skinner himself has modestly proposed in his behaviorist utopia.”

more -> http://www.alternet.org/why-are-americans-so-easy-manipulate-and-control?paging=off

[2pooped2pop]

1. they have marketed very well.

Many people still think that the news has to be factual. After hearing almost anything 3 times, people tend to believe it.

So they market shit and we lap it up.

THose of us who don't agree are seldom heard.

It's just aggressive marketing skills that they use to convince us that, for example, a bill called "the clean air act" is actually written to protect the consumer rather than the corporation. They market it, just like coke.

[potone]

2. I think there are two main problems here.

The first is the systematic de-funding of education that has gone on since the end of the cold war. The second is the takeover of the television media by giant corporations with conservative vested interests. In addition to this, of course, the fact that wages have stagnated for decades means that most people are spending most of their time just trying to make ends meet and have little time or energy to seek out sources of information other than what is on TV. Anyway, that is my two cents on the topic. I'd be interested to hear from other people about this.

[Calypso0956]

5. Lazy~

I'd have to say most are lazy and would rather take someone's word for things than do their own research and draw their own conclusions.

During the Kerry campaign, I remember asking someone if she was going to watch the Demo National Convention. She told me "No" that she was "raised a Republican, both her parents and grandparents were republicans, so therefore she have the time to watch things. I thought !Wow. You REALLY want to see some changes. It was almost like like this family voting was ritual sacred. Totally insane, but you can't tell them anything because they are always "right".

[ladjf]

7. You have "nailed" it exactly. Thanks for the insightful post. nt

[AntiFascist]

12. I agree....

the dumbing down of America means less competition for the 1% (or .01% for that matter). Imagine the "terror" of having a well-educated populace?

[barnabas63]

3. Google it..

Americans think every question has a single easy answer - critical thinking is not valued.

[Laochtine]

4. Most people don't read

Dull as it might be the written word is revolutionary. TY Thomas Paine

[GulleyJimson]

6. Maybe the quality of education

http://www.washingtonea.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1800&Itemid=44

National average of high school graduates in 1950 is 59%.

National average of high school graduates in 1990 is 72.4%

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0610/Graduation-rate-for-US-high-schoolers-falls-for-second-straight-year

National average of high school graduates in 2007 is 68.8%

Education is a non-issue. Americans did elect (?) W. for two terms after all when graduation rates were at its peak.

[Zoeisright]

8. Stupidity.

[AdHocSolver]

9. The entire American culture is designed to teach obedience to authority.

The educational system in the U.S. rewards deference to authority over using your own intelligence to learn reality.

Teaching to the test is designed to ensure that students "learn" only what is prescribed over and against what your own senses and intelligence might tell you.

Knowledge is presented solely as a set of approved "facts" and learning is considered to have occurred when the student is able to instantaneously regurgitate the "correct" facts when requested on a test.

No questioning is allowed or you risk getting a poor grade which may prevent you from getting a good job in an ever shrinking economy.

Making a mistake signifies "failure" in school and on the job so most people just respond to teachers and bosses without question.

The ones who are rewarded on the job are not the most talented or skilled, but are the ones most obsequious to authority.

We have witnessed in the political sphere how many people will believe the most outrageous falsehoods even when presented with facts that contradict those falsehoods. This is the result of Pavlovian conditioning that is used to instill authoritarian personalities on the population.

The wonder is that there are as many people that rebel against this authoritarian brainwashing as there are.

[HooptieWagon]

10. Evangelical religious fundamentalists.

They are conditioned to accept what they are told without question. Just ignore countering theories and arguments, even if soundly based in fact and logic. The US has a greater percentage of these people than other western countries, people conditioned since birth to view independant thought and intellectualism as the devil's work. They are bombarded with this message every Sunday, wednesdays, and during the rest of the week on TV... perhaps even talk radio. Probably the most misinformed demographic in any democracy. I doubt any outreach or education program can effectively counter years of indoctrination and propaganda.

[MountainLaurel]

11. Another great source

"The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer, written in response (in part) to the question of how the Germans could have went along so willingly with Hitler and crew, in most cases.

[Shireling]

13. Isn't this how we lose democracy?

Having a corporate news media that repeats propaganda.

Allowing hate speech Talk Radio, which encourages prejudice.

Repeating a phrase over and over until people believe the phrase - brainwashing.

Not encouraging students to question what they are being taught.

Having TV shows that teach envy of fame and riches, instead of asking what is really important in life.

Defunding Public Broadcasting, which helps to educate the public without propaganda.

Keeping more and more people in poverty and ignorance.

Haven't similar trends been seen in authoritarian governments throughout history?