The late 1950s and early 1960s were great times for sociology and psychology in relation to economics.
There were published a number of important sociological studies, especially about the developments in the American society.
Understandable, that everybody looked at that society as an example. Europe was exhausted and half destroyed,
while the US transformed into a mass society and enjoyed mass consumption. Besides, it became the guardian of the free world against the communist threat in NATO.
We already presented a few important books like David Riesman's "The lonely Crowd" (1950). According to Riesman institutions
that had flourished within the tradition-directed and the inner-directed social framework became secondary to daily life.
Instead of living according to traditions, or conforming to the values of organized religion, of the family, or societal codes,
the new middle class gradually adopted a malleability in the way people lived with each other.
The increasing ability to consume goods and afford material abundance was accompanied by a shift away from tradition to inner-directedness.
How to define one's self became a function of the way others lived. Outer-directedness became the norm.
John Kenneth Galbraith showed how economic growth, mass consumption and advertisement are the engine of the welfare state. "The Affluent Society" was published in 1958.
The book sought to clearly outline the manner in which the post–World War II United States was becoming wealthy in the private sector
but remained poor in the public sector, lacking social and physical infrastructure, and perpetuating income disparities.
Walt Whitman Rostow (1916 - 2003), an American economist and political theorist, published "The Stages of Economic Growth" in 1960.
In his book he describes the five stages of economic growth through the ages and the characteristics of the fifth stage, at which we have arrived are:
The industrial base dominates the economy; the primary sector is of greatly diminished weight in economy and society;
widespread and normative consumption of high-value consumer goods (e.g. automobiles);
consumers typically (if not universally), have disposable income, beyond all basic needs, for additional goods
Urban society (a movement away from rural countrysides to the cities)
This is at the height of the Cold War, where parts of the world didn't believe in Rostow's stages, but in the fall of capitalism and the rule of the proletariat.
Of course there also were protests against mass consumption and manipulation by advertisements and commercials.
In "The Hidden Persuaders", first published in 1957, Vance Packard, an American journalist, explored advertisers' use of consumer motivational research
and other psychological techniques, including depth psychology and subliminal tactics,
to manipulate expectations and induce desire for products, particularly in the American postwar era.
I, myself, recall serious debates we had in the late 1960s about the mass man, the herd spirit, brainless consumerism and the decay of morals.
And what is "La Condition Humaine" of today? It seems that mass consumption worldwide has been accepted as a natural phenomenon.
And to keep this going the debate focuses on environmental issues and pollution.
Thank you for your attention again...
The Discussion
[13:19] oola Neruda: well said... well researched...
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:20] herman Bergson: Thank you oola....
[13:20] herman Bergson: But let me rephrase the issue...
[13:20] herman Bergson: Those sociologists described development as stages....
[13:21] herman Bergson: Like Rostow had five stages and we are in the 5th....
[13:21] herman Bergson: But that suggests that there is some logic, some unavoidableness in where we are now
[13:21] CB Axel: I need to read about those 5 stages.
[13:21] CB Axel: What worries me more than marketers manipulating us into thinking we need to buy more goods is they way they manipulate us into things like voting for Trump or for Brexit.
[13:22] herman Bergson: Those stages are historical phases CB
[13:22] oola Neruda: may i add... a book that is very important....MERCHANTS OF DOUBT
[13:22] herman Bergson: Like homo sapiens began as a gatherer - hunter
[13:23] CB Axel: I've heard of that book, oola.
[13:23] herman Bergson: What is that book about oola?
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinks i did too oola
[13:24] herman Bergson: Got it....Spin doctors spread misinformation and confusion among American citizens to delay progress on such important issues as global climate change.
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:24] oola Neruda: remember when the cigarette companies were protecting their profits... and said that smoking will not harm you... and they had a bunch of people act like sceintists and put out false info
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there is so much bad information being put out
[13:24] herman Bergson: lol...that is what Barr is doing on the Mueller report with his press conference :-))
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): amazing stuff !!!!
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): what a toady
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i felt I'm Sorry! for Rosenstein standing there
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I sorry..
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they even had commercials like "what ciggarete does your doctor smoke" and even was in Flintstones series
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): looking blankly ahead
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): brand was Winston I think
[13:25] oola Neruda: the people denying climate change are doing the same thing... even some of the same players... and they get paid to say..."well, that isn't so..this is what is so....?
[13:25] herman Bergson: he had a face like a sphinx
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): also amazing
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i hope he gets to appear before a committee soon
[13:26] oola Neruda: you only need people to doubt... don't have to have facts to do it
[13:26] herman Bergson: ok...back to business here :-)
[13:26] CB Axel: exactly, oola
[13:27] herman Bergson: that is the US politics of today, it seems
[13:28] herman Bergson: But back to the issue of today....
[13:28] CB Axel: But the US isn't the only place being lied to and manipulated.
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no that is very true
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I listen to bbc at night if i wake up
[13:28] herman Bergson: I get the impression that consumerism isn't a problem at all anymore....even Russia and China go that way...
[13:28] CB Axel: I just saw a TED talk about how ads on Facebook influenced people in an area of Wales to vote yes to Brexit.
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): african countries
[13:30] oola Neruda: the books Herman mentioned are the seeds... and see what has grown from those important seeds...step by step
[13:30] herman Bergson: That was what Vance Packard addressed....the use of psychological tricks to manipulated the people
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): loll like the ads they said were brain waahing
[13:31] herman Bergson: A world of consumers. oola...
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hidden
[13:32] herman Bergson: It was the 20th century that created this for us
[13:32] herman Bergson: so...what is next?
[13:33] herman Bergson: Rostow never got further than the 5th stage :-)
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it was a long century
[13:33] herman Bergson: We are the sixth however
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as i said, ads are to get people to buy stuff they don't need and I mean we don't need stuff we don't need right?
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think it's going to be difficult to change, we are used to this way of life
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:33] herman Bergson: Yes Beertje.....
[13:34] herman Bergson: As such I don't complain about it.....we have healthcare, good education, good infrastructure and food for all for instance
[13:34] oola Neruda: there is a book out with 20 things to avoid...as it is changing... it's called ON TYRANY... describing it , placing it in our history... and what to avoid as this practice continues to grow by timothy snyder
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): interesting
[13:35] Ciska Riverstone is online.
[13:35] herman Bergson: Interesting person, oola
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): shall look for ti
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it
[13:36] oola Neruda: small book...easy read
[13:36] Lai Fallen (laila.streeter) is online.
[13:36] herman Bergson: Google on timothy snyder and you've got it gGemma
[13:37] herman Bergson: As you see, the world isn't just that black and white picture....there is happening a lot
[13:38] herman Bergson: And as I use to say.....
[13:38] herman Bergson: Where there is time, there is hope :-)
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:39] herman Bergson: So if you haven't any questions anymore....?
[13:40] herman Bergson: Let me dismiss class :-)
[13:40] herman Bergson: Thank you all again
[13:40] oola Neruda: i like how you went through the stages if change so clearly...
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so interesting and so true as usual
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki time for easter party
[13:40] herman Bergson whispers: thank you Bejiita :-)
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu soon all
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:40] oola Neruda: with a place to learn more
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