In this current political climate should the government in power be able to call the expertise of professional psychologists to change behaviour of the population of the country along with media propaganda
Overall, I would be very concerned with the government using psychologists to attempt to gain additional control over the population. The government, by its very nature, already has a great deal of control and authority over the public. I believe what is more important is transparency and not overt or subvert efforts at control when control is something already available to the government through so many means and methods. Are you perhaps referring to the government's efforts to get the general public vaccinated?
That's a very good question. I think that, in many ways, psychologists are undoubtedly already doing so. For many decades psychologists have participated in conducting research on marketing, media, socialization, perception, economics, and human behavior as it relates to many areas of life. This information has been used for many years by government agencies and many businesses to make their decisions. Shaping behavior was the major goal of behaviorism. I don't think the question is so much should a government call on the expertise of their professionals/scientists/researchers. I think the major ethical question is how will the government implement this research in policies. Will it be merely shaping behavior or will it turn into control? To what end will the control take place? I think it's a complicated ethical, moral, and legal question. What are your thoughts, @mbaker63?
Overall, I would be very concerned with the government using psychologists to attempt to gain additional control over the population. The government, by its very nature, already has a great deal of control and authority over the public. I believe what is more important is transparency and not overt or subvert efforts at control when control is something already available to the government through so many means and methods. Are you perhaps referring to the government's efforts to get the general public vaccinated?
That's a very good question. I think that, in many ways, psychologists are undoubtedly already doing so. For many decades psychologists have participated in conducting research on marketing, media, socialization, perception, economics, and human behavior as it relates to many areas of life. This information has been used for many years by government agencies and many businesses to make their decisions. Shaping behavior was the major goal of behaviorism. I don't think the question is so much should a government call on the expertise of their professionals/scientists/researchers. I think the major ethical question is how will the government implement this research in policies. Will it be merely shaping behavior or will it turn into control? To what end will the control take place? I think it's a complicated ethical, moral, and legal question. What are your thoughts, @mbaker63?