Behavioral Science
I think the study of behavior should be taught more broadly, not just from a Content perspective or a specialism, but as a mainstream subject of value to the public at large. Think of the impact this would have on the world. When I posted Robert Cialdini’s video ”Secrets from the Science of Persuasion”, many people found the experience Utilitarian and Inspirational.
I believe there is enormous value in better understanding our behavior. Not only can it help us all get along, but gives us insights into cultural evolution.
To speak to Anthony’s point: “disconnect with people and a stronger connection with technology”, while walking the streets of Boston, I have noticed a trend over the last year or so that I hadn’t really noticed before. When a group of people exits a restaurant, they tend to congregate on the sidewalk all checking their smartphones. It completely blocks the sidewalk and yet the group seem oblivious to what is so obvious to a passerby. Such is the power of the small screen. It engages us in a way that removes our minds from the real world and takes them into the cyber world. I can assure you, during those moments, only mindless bodies are gathering on the sidewalks. All the thinking material is engaged in cyberspace. If we all understood and appreciated more about behavior, I think in this particular example, these folks might subconsciously become aware of passersby and their bodies might automatically move to one side instead of remaining defiantly as an obstruction.
There are countless examples of behavior one can identify just by observing groups of people. It’s interesting to me to be in a city like Boston after several years on the West Coast in cities like LA, San Fran, San Jose, then migrating steadily east to Las Vegas, followed by Denver and finally Boston. There is a gradual transition as one travels east from almost total dependency on cars as transport in LA to being able to live without a car in Boston, if one so chooses. America in general is a new hand at learning how to adjust behavior as its cities get denser and denser…and there is nothing more inevitable. East Asian countries like Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, China are old hands at this game. If ever you’ve traveled to Japan, you’ve doubtless marveled at the serenity of people at rush hour, packed into subway trains like sardines. Nobody complains, all shuffle “automatically” to accommodate their fellow citizens. It’s a wonderful thing to behold. Nobody seems to mind when a white-gloved subway worker in a smart uniform literally pushes people like some type of commodity into the subway cars so that the doors can close.
It will be interesting to observe as we become more self-aware of our behavior in society as more and more people migrate to the great cities of the world to live and work.
I believe there is enormous value in better understanding our behavior. Not only can it help us all get along, but gives us insights into cultural evolution.
To speak to Anthony’s point: “disconnect with people and a stronger connection with technology”, while walking the streets of Boston, I have noticed a trend over the last year or so that I hadn’t really noticed before. When a group of people exits a restaurant, they tend to congregate on the sidewalk all checking their smartphones. It completely blocks the sidewalk and yet the group seem oblivious to what is so obvious to a passerby. Such is the power of the small screen. It engages us in a way that removes our minds from the real world and takes them into the cyber world. I can assure you, during those moments, only mindless bodies are gathering on the sidewalks. All the thinking material is engaged in cyberspace. If we all understood and appreciated more about behavior, I think in this particular example, these folks might subconsciously become aware of passersby and their bodies might automatically move to one side instead of remaining defiantly as an obstruction.
There are countless examples of behavior one can identify just by observing groups of people. It’s interesting to me to be in a city like Boston after several years on the West Coast in cities like LA, San Fran, San Jose, then migrating steadily east to Las Vegas, followed by Denver and finally Boston. There is a gradual transition as one travels east from almost total dependency on cars as transport in LA to being able to live without a car in Boston, if one so chooses. America in general is a new hand at learning how to adjust behavior as its cities get denser and denser…and there is nothing more inevitable. East Asian countries like Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, China are old hands at this game. If ever you’ve traveled to Japan, you’ve doubtless marveled at the serenity of people at rush hour, packed into subway trains like sardines. Nobody complains, all shuffle “automatically” to accommodate their fellow citizens. It’s a wonderful thing to behold. Nobody seems to mind when a white-gloved subway worker in a smart uniform literally pushes people like some type of commodity into the subway cars so that the doors can close.
It will be interesting to observe as we become more self-aware of our behavior in society as more and more people migrate to the great cities of the world to live and work.
Behavioral Science
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