Resilience
Most of us are just plain lazy. Give us some support, and we will come to depend on it, losing our innate ability to do it for ourselves. Don't believe? Then think of how many mobile phone numbers you can remember, and compare it with the number of phone numbers you used to remember before the advent of mobile phones. No, I doubt that it is because we were younger then (with better memory), or that there were fewer things to remember. It is just that the mobile phone remembers it for us, and we conveniently leave it as that.
Then, there is decision-making. Many would like to say that they spend time making their decisions, but I think we should be honest with ourselves. Many decisions are made instinctively (without a worked out logic), which relies upon our social programming. However, as social programming goes, that makes us even more vulnerable to being manipulated. While many may consider the suicide bombers from the Middle East as easily-led and confused, consider how we have been manipulated into thinking that we have to own the latest gadgets, for example. Not as extreme, but is it not similar?
So, I do wonder if all this development of society is a good thing after all. Knowing what human behaviour is like, are we more resilient as a species, or are we even more vulnerable to changes?
Then, there is decision-making. Many would like to say that they spend time making their decisions, but I think we should be honest with ourselves. Many decisions are made instinctively (without a worked out logic), which relies upon our social programming. However, as social programming goes, that makes us even more vulnerable to being manipulated. While many may consider the suicide bombers from the Middle East as easily-led and confused, consider how we have been manipulated into thinking that we have to own the latest gadgets, for example. Not as extreme, but is it not similar?
So, I do wonder if all this development of society is a good thing after all. Knowing what human behaviour is like, are we more resilient as a species, or are we even more vulnerable to changes?