REVERSAL THEORY AND IDEOLOGY Michael Apter 14 th. International Reversal Theory Conference New Orleans, July 8-11, 2009
By Ideology I shall mean ideas about how one should live, and what constitutes the good life. We shall explore the eight reversal theory values in relation to such ideas. In doing so we shall need to look at social as well as individual ideologies, including political ideology.
Reversal theory has been largely about the: Individual
Work has been done on teams Micro-climate ALPS Team Individual
Some work has been done on organizations Macro-climate AWIS Organization Team Individual
Some work has been on families Little on communities Community Family Individual
Culture/Society Community Organization Family Team Individual
At all levels studied, the Reversal Theory structure of eight values has been found to operate Achievement Duty Power Individualism Collectivism Love Freedom Enjoyment Playful
In looking at ideology, our interest here will be not so much in measuring the climate differences between different societies, as in understanding how the RT values become assimilated to, and expressed in, different social systems.
Such social systems include: Philosophies of life Societal values Institutions Ideologies proper Political parties
Marxism and Structuralism Phenomenology Culture and society Culture and society Individual Motivation Individual Motivation
INDIVIDUAL EIGHT RT VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES Expressed in
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES Assimilated to Expressed in
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES INSTITUTIONS Assimilated to Expressed in
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS Assimilated to Expressed in
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES Assimilated to Expressed in
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES Assimilated to Expressed in
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC EXAMPLE
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC EXAMPLE Many examples could go in each of these boxes. Let us look at some examples that are historically and culturally diverse.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC EXAMPLE For example: where would you put the ancient Greek Epicurean philosophy?
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Epicurean EXAMPLE Hedonism would also fit here (Utilitarianism). And the New Orleans lifestyle.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC EXAMPLE PARATELIC Epicurean Hedonism CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Hedonism would also fit here. And the New Orleans lifestyle.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC EXAMPLE PARATELIC Epicurean Hedonism CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC What about the Cynical philosophy of life (Diogenes)?
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC EXAMPLE PARATELIC Epicurean Hedonism CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Cynical Diogenes lived a life of defiance and unconventionality
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC Epicurean Hedonism CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY Cynical SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC And a third ancient Greek philosophy, Stoicism?
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC MASTERY SYMPATHY Epicurean Hedonism Cynical Stoicism AUTIC ALLOIC We could also put Spartan here
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Moving to the Middle Ages, where would the cult of Chivalry fit?
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC It was a cult based on the concept of love so it is a sympathy philosophy.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry It was a cult based on the concept of love so it is a sympathy philosophy.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry We could say that Christianity is a philosophy of love. But I will deal with religious ideas later on.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry Let s move to a Renaissance concept: virtu (Machiavelli). This means courage and self-reliance.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry Yes, it s another mastery philosophy
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry How about the Enlightenment concept of Deontology (Kant)? This means that we must do things that are inherently moral.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry This seems to be essentially about conforming.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry Now to the Victorian era and the American school of Transcendentalists (Emerson, Thoreau).
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry Transcendentalism This was all about becoming part of nature, of transcending oneself
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry Transcendentalism Twentieth century: Humanistic psychology idea of selfactualisation. Which value does this appeal to?
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY AUTIC ALLOIC Chivalry Self-actualization Transcendentalism Clearly, this is a cult of selfhood, and therefore autic. Another example of a philosophy of self would be Objectivism (Rand).
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY Chivalry AUTIC Self-actualization Objectivism ALLOIC Transcendentalism Clearly, this is a cult of selfhood, and therefore autic. Another example of a philosophy of self would be Objectivism (Rand).
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE EXAMPLE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY Chivalry AUTIC Self-actualization Objectivism ALLOIC Transcendentalism There is only one spot left, which I have reserved for Existentialism: one must choose and engage with meaningful objectives.
Philosophies of Life: Examples What is the good life? STATE/VALUE TELIC PARATELIC CONFORMING NEGATIVISTIC Existentialism EXAMPLE Epicurean Hedonism Deontology Cynical MASTERY Stoicism Spartan Virtu SYMPATHY Chivalry AUTIC Self-actualization Objectivism ALLOIC Transcendentalism There is only one spot left, which I have reserved for Existentialism: one must choose and engage with meaningful objectives.
All these major approaches to the meaning of life turn out to be partial, and to fit in to the more general structure of values and states suggested by Reversal Theory.
Self-help philosophies The biggest best sellers of all time: Samuel Smiles, Self Help (1859) Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) 15 million sold. Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking (1952) 20 million sold. M.Scott Peck, The Road Less Travelled (1979) 7 million sold. Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) 20 million copies sold.
Values appealed to: Self-help philosophies Samuel Smiles, Self Help Instrumental: Telic. Ultimate: Autic Mastery Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People Instrumental: Alloic Sympathy. Ultimate: Autic Mastery Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking Instrumental: Conformist. Utimate: Autic Mastery M.Scott Peck, The Road Less Travelled Instrumental: Telic Sympathy. Ultimate: Autic Mastery Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Instrumental: Telic sympathy. Ultimate: Autic Mastery
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES Assimilated to Expressed in
Societal values Values that can only be expressed at a social level Telic: Technological Progress. Paratelic: Affluence, consumerism. Conforming: Equality, purity, justice. Rebellious: Freedom, tolerance and diversity.
Societal values Values that can only be expressed at a social level Mastery: Imperialism, hegemony. Sympathy: Community, family values. Autic: Human rights. Alloic: Patriotism, unity.
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES Assimilated to Expressed in
Institutions Particular values become focal Telic: Education, banking, insurance Paratelic: Movies, theatre, concerts, galleries, sports arenas, bars, theme parks, mass media Conforming: The Law, churches, the civil service Rebellious: Journalism, opposition parties, gangs, prostitution
Institutions Particular values become focal Mastery: Big business, the police, the army Sympathy: Hospitals, charities Autic: Casinos, stock exchange, individual sports Alloic: Trade Unions, team sports, elections
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES Assimilated to Expressed in
Ideologies: Totalitarian See the world in terms of conflict and struggle (mastery) Utopian vision (telic) Long term planning (telic) History has direction (telic) People must sacrifice themselves (alloic) Collectivization (alloic) Correct thinking and action (conforming) Purity (conforming) Privileged values: Mastery, telic, conforming and alloic.
Liberal Ideology: Individuals are valued (autic) Freedom of speech and other freedoms (rebellious) Welfare state (sympathy) Importance of progress (telic) The pursuit of happiness (paratelic) Privileged values: telic, paratelic, rebellious, sympathy and alloic
Conservative Ideology: Importance of tradition (conforming) Support of social hierarchies (conforming) Entrepreneurial (mastery) Individual responsibility (autic) Privileged values: Mastery, conforming, autic.
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL POLITICAL EIGHT RT VALUES SOCIETAL VALUES LIFE PHILOSOPHIES IDEOLOGIES INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL PARTIES Assimilated to Expressed in
Political parties They represent ideologies, but in particular concrete historical circumstances. They need to appeal to all the basic values if they are to have a chance of succeeding. They need to be motivationally rich. But they may attach these values to different aspects of the society or nation that they hope to lead. Let us compare the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S. in this respect.
Democrats Republicans TELIC Idealistic, utopian Realistic, pragmatic
Democrats Republicans TELIC Idealistic, utopian Realistic, pragmatic PARATELIC Happiness for all Happiness for self
Democrats Republicans TELIC Idealistic, utopian Idealistic, utopian PARATELIC Happiness for all Happiness for self CONFORMING Political correctness Family values
Democrats Republicans TELIC Idealistic, utopian Realistic, pragmatic PARATELIC Happiness for all Happiness for self CONFORMING Political correctness Family values NEGATIVISTIC Lifestyle freedom Freedom from taxes
Democrats Republicans MASTERY Strong government Law and order
Democrats Republicans MASTERY Strong government Law and order SYMPATHY Welfare Voluntary work
Democrats Republicans MASTERY Strong government Law and order SYMPATHY Welfare Voluntary work AUTIC Open-mindedness Pioneering, self-reliance
Democrats Republicans MASTERY Strong government Law and order SYMPATHY Welfare Voluntary work AUTIC Open-mindedness Pioneering, self-reliance ALLOIC International issues Patriotism
The point is that both parties appeal to the same basic values. They differ only in what they attach these values to.
Religion Religions are like political parties. They create attachments to all the basic values.
Christianity Telic: Personal salvation, End times: rapture Paratelic: Be like little children Conformist: Obediance, ritual, faith, righteousness Negativism: Defiance of false gods Mastery: Self-discipline, evangelism Sympathy: Love, charity Self-oriented: Prayer, vicarious redemption Other-oriented: Worship, Sacrifice, Altruism, Good works
Judaism* Telic: Relation to God progresses through history Paratelic: Be like little children Conformist: Obediance, ritual, faith, righteousness Negativism: Defiance of false gods Mastery: Self-discipline (evangelism discounted) Sympathy: Love, charity Self-oriented: Prayer (vicarious redemption discounted) Other-oriented: Worship, Sacrifice, Altruism, Good works *Changes from Christianity shown in italics
Islam* Telic: Paradise for the worthy Paratelic: Be like little children Conformist: Obediance, submission, ritual, faith, righteousness Negativism: Defiance of false gods Mastery: Self-discipline (personal jihad), evangelism (jihad) Sympathy: Love, charity Self-oriented: Prayer (vicarious redemption discounted) Other-oriented: Worship, Sacrifice, Altruism, Good works *Changes from Christianity shown in italics
Main Conclusions: The reversal theory value structure can be discerned in ideological systems of all kinds
Main Conclusions: The reversal theory value structure can be discerned in ideological systems of all kinds Social/political/religious ideas gain their very strength by appealing to, and harnessing, these foundational motives
Main Conclusions: The reversal theory value structure can be discerned in ideological systems of all kinds Social/political/religious ideas gain their very strength by appealing to, and harnessing, these foundational motives Different ideologies emphasize different subsets of the eight motivational states
Main Conclusions: The reversal theory value structure can be discerned in ideological systems of all kinds Social/political/religious ideas gain their very strength by appealing to, and harnessing, these foundational motives Different ideologies emphasize different subsets of the eight motivational states Social systems need to be motivationally rich if they are to survive and thrive
Main Conclusions: The reversal theory value structure can be discerned in ideological systems of all kinds Social/political/religious ideas gain their very strength by appealing to, and harnessing, these foundational motives. Different ideologies emphasize different subsets of the eight motivational states. Social systems need to be motivationally rich if they are to survive and thrive. RT suggests that value pluralism is desirable