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Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

psyche.co

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Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#31

Post by njsubedi »

sundvor wrote: post #27

You want all people to do the right thing? Fine them if they don't. It's the only thing that's helped us get the virus under control. Greetings from Melbourne, Victoria, currently on stage 4 lockdown because enough people are selfish and don't care (unless threatened). EDIT: (Leaving my original text unmodified above) Agree that this sounds crass, and probably not very cultivated by HN's standards, but it's from the…

Yes, same goes for following traffic rules. You cannot just fix the traffic problems by patting people on the back for stopping at the red light. You need to fine people as much as possible; the higher the fines, the lower the cases of traffic rules violation.

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#32

Post by econcon »

Barrin92 wrote: post #8

"The potential of positive self-directed emotions has largely not been embraced by activists. The worry could be that it might make those engaging in the cause appear self-satisfied or selfish. But these studies suggest that, instead of focusing on ‘doom and gloom’ messaging that zooms in on people’s shortcomings and risks alienating them, policymakers and strategists might find that positive messaging, speaking to p…

You can see it in the current political party in power in India.

It never acknowledges any problem with their policies or nation or even its people. Atleast that's what comes from their supreme leader.

As a result lots of people have developed blind faith in this particular supreme leader and any criticism is met with "anti national" tag.

Untill now I had believed those were paid trolls and IT cell employs but my own relatives are not tolerating any word said against the political party so it seems all have been colored in the faith and belief of this party.

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#33

Post by njsubedi »

ccleve wrote: post #25

Lovely. A psychological study on how to manipulate people into supporting your social agenda. How about using, you know, reason? Treating them like adults? Give them pros and cons so they can make a rational decision?

Not everyone can take rational decisions. Even if they are in a position to take rational decisions, external factors like greed, pride, social pressure and situation hugely affect those decisions. For example, if there's a plantation programme in the community, and my buddies want me to hang out for a drink at the same time, I will most likely decide to go to the plantation programme, but the buddies will make me hang out with them as much as they can.

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#35

Post by dx87 »

Barrin92 wrote: post #8

"The potential of positive self-directed emotions has largely not been embraced by activists. The worry could be that it might make those engaging in the cause appear self-satisfied or selfish. But these studies suggest that, instead of focusing on ‘doom and gloom’ messaging that zooms in on people’s shortcomings and risks alienating them, policymakers and strategists might find that positive messaging, speaking to p…

Positive messaging has been used in effective leadership for a long time. If you can frame the behavioral change in a way that someone thinks it's their idea, they're more likely to buy into it. Breaking out the punishment stick only works if the person has no option but to deal with the punishment. Negative messaging always starts from the position of "you should stop doing what you want", where positive messaging starts with "if you do this, it'll be good for you".

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#36

Post by dredmorbius »

pyuser583 wrote: post #14

Best way to get people to do the right thing: pay them to do it.

The most effective way is for them not to consciously realise there's any alternative. Making the right thing the default or far easier option next. Reward/punishment are quite low on the motivation/incentive scale.

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#37

Post by bredren »

beachy wrote: post #5
lern_too_spel wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You probably mean Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, and not Andre Carnegie, steel magnate.

Indeed. Andrew Carnegie's missives were less noble, and more fitting of a steel magnate: "Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs."

Yikes. Definitely meant Dale Carnegie.

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#38

Post by ewzimm »

ncphillips wrote: post #29
ccleve wrote: post #25

Lovely. A psychological study on how to manipulate people into supporting your social agenda. How about using, you know, reason? Treating them like adults? Give them pros and cons so they can make a rational decision?

Unfortunately people don’t work that way. People are highly influenced by the way things are presented. There are numerous examples of this. See Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman for a good primer.

Is this inherent to all people, or is behavior reinforced by the way the problem is presented? Those first two sentences seem to indicate different possibilities.

This article frames motivation as based on either a positive or negative self-image, but it doesn't question whether motivation based on self-image is the best option.

I haven't seen any evidence that self-image is universally the primary motivation across cultures, so the degree to which people are motivated by it would seem to be influenced by the way things are presented.

Reason is one other potential motivation that could be considered a special case of acting in accordance with perceived transcendent principles. Loyalty to others or aspirations for collective achievements are other motivations that are not always centered on self-image. These aren't inherently more valuable, and they can be just as positive or negative as self-image, but they present alternatives.

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#39

Post by bredren »

haimez wrote: post #4
lern_too_spel wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You probably mean Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, and not Andre Carnegie, steel magnate.

I enjoy the irony of getting to be the one to point out and the poetry of “Andre Carnegie” immensely. I’m sorry this came at the expense of your typo.

The context appropriate response would have been: “great of you to share this mention and also the close-to-correction on the author’s name. You may also find it interesting that Andre C...“

Though to go meta on myself, your humor here is wonderful. You might enjoy an even stronger response with ...

Re: Want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

#40

Post by xdavidliu »

lern_too_spel wrote: post #3
bredren wrote: post #2

I believe Andrew Carnegie called this recommendation for influencing others “give a bad dog a good name.”

You probably mean Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, and not Andre Carnegie, steel magnate.

nit: you probably mean Andrew Carnegie, famous steel magnate, not Andre Carnegie, who isn't famous.
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