Question

...
David Blomstrom

Classifying Manipulation

We have mega-lists of logical fallacies, which are designed to play games with the mind.

Is anyone aware of any attempts to similarly classify manipulation?

Maybe the topic is too big or complex to even attempt a classification system, but let me give you some examples.

1. War is arguably the most extreme strategy for manipulating foreign governments.

2. I've attended union meetings where union officials use hand signals when they want someone in the audience to interrupt a debate.

3. I've also attended forums where an individual who identifies himself as an activist will loudly condemn corrupt officials...except I later discover that this person isn't an activist at all; he's actually working for the same entity he condemns.

4. The media often focus on relatively unimportant events in order to divert attention from truly important issues.

5. Sexual harassment might be another example.

I just wondered if anyone has attempted to organize and classify these manipulation techniques, similar to logical fallacies. Of course, there can also be a lot of overlap between fallacies and physical manipulation, which may make things even more confusing.
asked on Sunday, Aug 20, 2017 11:07:39 AM by David Blomstrom

Top Categories Suggested by Community

Comments

Want to get notified of all questions as they are asked? Update your mail preferences and turn on "Instant Notification."

Uncomfortable Ideas: Facts don't care about feelings. Science isn't concerned about sensibilities. And reality couldn't care less about rage.

This is a book about uncomfortable ideas—the reasons we avoid them, the reasons we shouldn’t, and discussion of dozens of examples that might infuriate you, offend you, or at least make you uncomfortable.

Many of our ideas about the world are based more on feelings than facts, sensibilities than science, and rage than reality. We gravitate toward ideas that make us feel comfortable in areas such as religion, politics, philosophy, social justice, love and sex, humanity, and morality. We avoid ideas that make us feel uncomfortable. This avoidance is a largely unconscious process that affects our judgment and gets in the way of our ability to reach rational and reasonable conclusions. By understanding how our mind works in this area, we can start embracing uncomfortable ideas and be better informed, be more understanding of others, and make better decisions in all areas of life.

Get 20% off this book and all Bo's books*. Use the promotion code: websiteusers

* This is for the author's bookstore only. Applies to autographed hardcover, audiobook, and ebook.

Get the Book

Answers

...
Bo Bennett, PhD
0

I thought about this question quote a bit when I was creating my course on Medial Bullsh*t. Everything I can find fit into these categories:

There was too much overlap, so I concluded that such a list would not add much value given the time it would take to compile. But that was my conclusion.

answered on Sunday, Aug 20, 2017 11:12:42 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

Bo Bennett, PhD Suggested These Categories

Comments